adult underwing

adult underwing European distribution in flight

Identification

In bulk, Alpine Swifts are over twice as big as Swifts and so they make an even more impressive spectacle when they whirl in flocks low over their breeding sites. The sight and sound of them screaming low over the streets of Istanbul is particularly memorable. Apart from their greater bulk, Alpine Swifts can be told from other swifts by the striking white patch on the belly and the fact that the rest of the plumage is much browner than on other swifts. Beware that some 'swifts with white bellies' turn out to be partial albino swifts so check that the belly is neatly defined, that the plumage is brown, not sooty, and, if you can, try to see the white throat patch which would be diagnostic of Alpine Swift.

Habitat

Breeds mostly in mountainous areas, in cliffs or under bridges but also in the centre of large towns such as Istanbul.

Migration

Migratory to sub-Saharan Africa usually during September and returns in April or even late March.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Alpine Swift is classed as Scarce: broadly speaking, species that are covered in British Birds' annual review of scarce species (and forms of similar rarity).

Sagres, Portugal 22/07/2009	Alexandra Park, London 06/09/2009	Alexandra Park, London 06/09/2009	Alexandra Park, London 06/09/2009	Alexandra Park, London 06/09/2009
Alexandra Park, London 06/09/2009	Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal 23/08/2009	Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal 07/08/2009	Dos Salgados, Algarve, Portugal 08/08/2009	Minerve, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 16/05/2009

 View all pictures of Alpine Swift

This species has been reported in the following areas (Bird News Extra subscribers can click a county name for more details):

Alpine Swift breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Italy
Macedonia
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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