Alpine Swift

The Alpine Swift is a large, powerful swift, noticeably bigger than the Common Swift, with long, scythe-shaped wings built for speed and endurance. It is brown above and largely brown below, but shows a clean white belly and a white throat patch separated by a distinct brown breast band -- a pattern unique among Old World swifts.

It breeds colonially on cliffs and crags, often in mountainous terrain but also on tall buildings, and is renowned for extraordinarily fast, sustained flight.

Key field marks

• Large size with long, swept-back wings and a shallowly forked tail
• White throat and white belly separated by a brown breast band
• Brown upperparts and brown wings, appearing dark at a distance
• Much larger and paler-bellied than the all-dark Common Swift

Similar species

The Common Swift is smaller and uniformly sooty-dark without the white belly. Pallid Swift is similarly all-dark but slightly paler and lacks the white underparts pattern of the Alpine Swift.

Range

Breeds from southern Europe and North Africa east through the Middle East and Central Asia to the Himalayas; a separate population resides in sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat

Nests colonially on cliffs, gorges, and mountain crags, as well as tall buildings and towers in some cities; forages widely over open country, farmland, and towns at varying altitudes.

Migration

European and Asian populations are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, while some populations elsewhere are resident.

Behavior

An exceptionally fast and agile flier, capable of sustained flight speeds among the highest recorded for a bird in level flight. Like other swifts it is almost entirely aerial, only landing to nest.

Voice

Gives a loud, trilling, descending scream, often uttered by groups chasing around nesting cliffs.

Feeding

Feeds exclusively on flying insects captured in the air, often foraging at high altitude and ranging widely from the colony.

Nesting and breeding

Nests colonially in cracks and ledges on cliffs or buildings, building a shallow nest of feathers and airborne material cemented with saliva. Lays 2-3 eggs, incubated by both parents.