Birds
File:Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis melba (45597230432).jpg

Alpine Swift

Alpine Swift

75
14 hours ago
Spotted
A large, long-winged swift with a striking white belly and throat, contrasting sharply with its dark brown plumage. It is often associated with mountainous regions.
Where to spot
Mountains, cliffs, and urban areas with tall buildings across Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, migrating to Africa for winter.
How to spot
Look for their distinctive large size, broad wings, and the prominent white belly contrasting with dark underparts. They often fly high and fast, circling over open areas or around cliffs and tall structures.
When to spot
Breeding season (spring/summer) when they are most active around their nesting sites. Active throughout the day.
Alpengierzwaluw tegen een blauwe lucht
File:Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis melba (45597230432).jpg
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), flight.jpg
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba)-flight.jpg
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba).jpg
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba) flight.jpg
File:Tachymarptis melba -Barcelona, Spain -flying-8.jpg
File:Tachymarptis melba in flight.jpg
Alpengierzwaluw tegen een blauwe lucht
Credits: Door Lefteris Stavrakas - Βουνοσταχτάρα Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66012392
File:Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis melba (45597230432).jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), flight.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba)-flight.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba).jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba) flight.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Tachymarptis melba -Barcelona, Spain -flying-8.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
File:Tachymarptis melba in flight.jpg
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Alpine Swifts spend an extraordinary amount of their lives in the air, feeding, drinking, and even sleeping while soaring. They are known to remain airborne for months at a time without landing.
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Spotted

Recently spotted
1714 (Seen in the last 3 months)
Last spotted
14 hours ago

Monthly observations

2 observations
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Gerrita
Gerrita
11 months ago
Alpine Swift
Spotted Alpine Swift
Spotted Alpine Swift
+90
Lifer
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Malu
Malu
11 months ago
Alpine Swift
San Gimignano, Toscana
Spotted Alpine Swift
Spotted Alpine Swift
+100
Lifer
high flyer
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