Category: Apodidae – Swifts

Common Swift
Apus apus

Post author By Admin
Post date March 17, 2019

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– near passerine, larger than Barn Swallow, much longer and thinner wings
– diurnal migrant, always airborne thus nocturnal as well
– migrates singly or in small to medium, loose to rather dense flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF1076, 12/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– uni-coloured dark sooty
– compared to Pallid Swift darker with slimmer body and smaller head

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF0701, 23/05/2014, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze
– white throat patch more prominent but smaller than in Pallid Swift
– wings more pointed

Common Swift Apus a. apus, 1CY
BIF1078, 13/08/2014, Hohen Luckow, Roland Neumann
– underside of 1CY birds scalier than in AD therefore reminiscent of Pallid Swift
– dark underwing coverts more contrasting than in Pallid Swift in 1CY with pale tips

Common Swift Apus a. apus, 1CY
BIF1079, 13/08/2014, Hohen Luckow, Roland Neumann
same as BIF1078
– depending on the light condition the overall colour can vary from warm sooty to colder dark greyish brown (cf. e.g. BIF1077)

Common Swift Apus a. apus, 1CY
BIF2848, 18/08/2018, North Sea offshore, Roland Neumann
– 1CY show pale fringed remiges and greater coverts (less distinct than in 1CY Pallid Swift
– in good light contrast between brown inner wing and darker outer wing visible
– slimmer ‘hips’ than Pallid Swift

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF1077, 12/05/2012, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– wing tip more pointed than in Pallid Swift

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF0702, 23/05/2014, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF0703, 25/04/2010, Erfurt, Germany, Mathias Putze

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD
BIF0704, 14/05/2009, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze

Common Swift Apus apus pekinensis
BIF0705, 13/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– ssp. pekinensis is more similar to Pallid Swift
– white forehead, white throat patch larger, underside more scaly and slightly paler overall than ssp. apus

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– most common a piercing, two-syllabled ‘scream’
– the first part is a sustained, fast and narrow modulated overslur
– the second part is a phrase consisting of fast repeated similar vertical elements (trill)
– the trill is faster modulated in males (narrower spaced)
– initial-, peak- and final frequency higher than in Pallid Swift

Common Swift Apus a. apus, AD M F, call in flight
BIF1951, 13/07/2008, Leipzig, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Pallid Swift (a) (v)
Pacific Swift (a) (v)
Alpine Swift (v)
White-rumped Swift (v)

#nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

Tags Common Swift Apus apus

Apodidae – Swifts

Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus

Post author By Admin
Post date March 17, 2019

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small near-passerine, larger than sparrow, same size as Common Swift
– diurnal migrant, always airborne thus nocturnal as well
– migrates singly or in small, very loose flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, 2CY
BIF0580, 11/02/2015, Sur, Oman, Mathias Putze
– white throat patch larger but more diffuse than in Common Swift
– in good lighting the overall colour is greyish to milky brown (not sooty as in Common Swift)
– underside appears scaly

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, 2CY
BIF0887, 11/02/2015, Sur, Oman, Mathias Putze
– contrast between darker underwing coverts and paler remiges more clinal and not as distict as in Common Swift
– plain head with dark ‚eye-mask‘
– broader ‚hips‘

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, 2CY
BIF0888, 11/02/2015, Sur, Oman, Mathias Putze
– before first moult all larger feathers with narrow white fringes (to lesser extend also shown by 1CY Common Swift)

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, 2CY
BIF0889, 11/02/2015, Sur, Oman, Mathias Putze
– rather blunt wing tip
– darker back and lesser wing coverts slightly contrasting (can form a fairly distinct dark ‚saddle‘ in AD)

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, 2CY
BIF0890, 11/02/2015, Sur, Oman, Mathias Putze
– body somewhat more robust than Common Swift but can be hard to judge in field

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– most common a two-syllabled piercing ‘scream’
– the first part is a sustained, fine modulated overslur
– the second part is a phrase of fast similar vertical elements (trill)
– the trill is narrower spaced in males (faster)
– initial, peak and final frequency lower than in Common Swift

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, F M, calls in flight
BIF2876, 20/02/2019, Metzoke Dragot, Israel, Patrick Franke

Pallid Swift Apus p. pallidus, M, calls in flight
BIF2877, 20/02/2019, Metzoke Dragot, Israel, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Common Swift (a) (v)
Pacific Swift (a) (v)
Alpine Swift (v)
White-rumped Swift (v)

#nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

Tags Pallid Swift Apus pallidus

Apodidae – Swifts

Pacific Swift
Apus pacificus

Post author By Admin
Post date March 17, 2019

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small near-passerine, larger than sparrow, same size as Common Swift
– very rare vagrant to WP, Asian origin
– diurnal migrant, always airborne thus nocturnal as well
– migrates singly or in small, very loose flocks

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Pacific Swift Apus p. pacificus
BIF0421, 21/05/2011, Khlerlen Gol, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– tail slightly longer than in Common Swift
– blackish tail and uppertail coverts contrasting to sooty body and wings
– white rump extending to rear flanks (more restricted to the back in White-rumped Swift)

Pacific Swift Apus p. pacificus
BIF0524, 13/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
compared to Common Swift:
– underside scalier
– longer tail with deeper fork
– white throat patch larger but more diffuse (well defined in White-rumped Swift)

Pacific Swift Apus p. pacificus
BIF0525, 13/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– secondaries without white trailing edge (shown by White-rumped Swift)

Pacific Swift Apus p. pacificus
BIF0526, 13/06/2014, Choibalsan, Mongolia, Mathias Putze
– if only seen from below it resembles Pallid Swift, but note darker colour, more contrasting underwing coverts and more pointed wings

Pacific Swift Apus p. pacificus
BIF0422, 06/06/2011, Ichchet, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– most common a two-syllabled piercing ‘scream’
– the first part is a sustained, fine modulated slight overslur -> Common Swift -> Pallid Swift
– the second part is a phrase of fast similar vertical elements (trill)
– the trill is narrower spaced in males (faster)

Pacific Swift Apus p pacificus, AD F, call in flight
BIF0423, 07/06/2013, Tsetserleg, Mongolia, Patrick Franke

Pacific Swift Apus p pacificus, AD M, call in flight
BIF0424, 07/06/2013, Tsetserleg, Mongolia, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Common Swift (a) (v)
Pallid Swift (a) (v)
Alpine Swift (v)
White-rumped Swift (v)

#nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

Tags Pacific Swift Apus pacificus

Apodidae – Swifts

Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melba

Post author By Admin
Post date June 14, 2016

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– medium-sized near-passerine, significantly larger than Common Swift
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small very loose parties

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF2589, 16/05/2008, Monfrague, Spain, Martin Grimm
– unmistakable!

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, 2CY
BIF3549, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– worn primaries, pale fringed undertail coverts and shape of the outermost tail feather suggest 2CY

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3535, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke
– odd wingshape due to growing inner primaries and secondaries (postbreeding moult in summer)

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3536, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, prob. 2CY
BIF3537, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, prob. 2CY
BIF3538, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3539, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3540, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3332, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3333, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– sandy brown upperside (cf. Common Swift)

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, AD
BIF3334, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
Common Swift Apus a. apus
BIF3335, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze
– note the distinct difference in size

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
Common Swift Apus a. apus
BIF3336, 28/05/2020, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba ssp.
BIF2590, 28/01/2014, Fort Portal, Uganda, Mathias Putze
– very long wings and white belly diagnostic even at greater distance

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3542, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3541, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3550, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba
BIF3551, 19/07/2021, Karlsruhe, Germany, Mathias Putze

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– in flight a diagnostic, unmistakable but very variable trill
– sometimes single or repeated whistled excitement calls (overslur)
– no knowledge about sexual dimorphism in calls (like in Apus swifts)
– very vocal during migration (COFTA 2021), though no knowledge about distinct ‘migration calls’
– might be much more vocal on spring migration (advertising)

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight
BIF3531, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight
BIF3532, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight, excitement call
BIF3533, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis m. melba, calls in flight, excitement call
BIF3534, 20/07/2021, Freiburg, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Common Swift (v)
Pallid Swift (v)
Pacific Swift (v)

#swift #nearpasserine

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress

Reference:
Cofta T 2021, Flight Identification of European Passerines, Princeton

Tags Alpine Swift Tachymarptis