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Alpine Swift

File:Βουνοσταχτάρα_Alpine_Swift_Tachymarptis_melba.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ321267· pop 65· linked from 212 articles

Alpine Swift

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Also known as Tachymarptis melba

species of bird

AI overview

The Alpine Swift is a small, fast-flying bird found in mountainous regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa that spends most of its life in the air hunting insects. This species is notable for its remarkable aerial abilities and is of interest to ornithologists and birdwatchers for its unique behaviors and adaptation to high-altitude environments.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Instance of
taxon
Parent taxon
Tachymarptis
Mass
96
Image
Alpine. Swift at kattampally.jpg
Show 11 more facts
taxon rank
species
IUCN conservation status
Least Concern
taxon name
Tachymarptis melba
Commons category
Tachymarptis melba
Commons gallery
Tachymarptis melba
litter size
2
taxon common name
Poadranofotsy
diel cycle
diurnality
short name
T. melba
taxon author citation
(Linnaeus, 1758)
taxon range
Africa
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~11 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba) 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.

Taxonomy

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Alpine Swift” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (5)