Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) Bird Guide

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Brief #

Largely dark brown with a dark neck band that separates the white throat from the white belly.

Synonyms #

Vencejo real (Spanish)
Andoriñón real (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Alpine Swift is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.

Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Largely dark brown in colour with a dark neck band that separates the white throat from the white belly. Juveniles are similar to adults, but their feathers are pale edged. Readily distinguished from the common swifts by their larger size and their white belly and throat. They are around twice as big as most other swifts in their range. Superficially similar but unrelated to a barn swallow and house martin.