Alpine Swift

Tachymarptis melba · Species of bird
Family
Order
Apodiformes
Codes
alpswi1, ALSW

About the Alpine Swift

The alpine swift is a species of swift found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. They breed in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalayas. Like common swifts, they are migratory; the southern European population winters further south in southern Africa. They have very short legs which are used for clinging to vertical surfaces. Like most swifts, they never settle voluntarily on the ground, spending most of their lives in the air living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderApodiformes
FamilySwifts (Apodidae)
SpeciesTachymarptis melba
Species Codesalpswi1, ALSW

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Alpine Swift belong to?

The Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) belongs to the Swifts family (Apodidae), in the order Apodiformes.

How can I identify the Alpine Swift?

The alpine swift is a species of swift found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. They breed in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalayas. Like common swifts, they are migratory; the southern European population winters further south in southern Africa. They have very short legs which are use...

Where can I report a Alpine Swift sighting?

You can log sightings of Alpine Swift on eBird (ebird.org) using species code alpswi1, or on iNaturalist.