Comparison of Swallows and Swifts: Similarities and Differences
An inexperienced observer thinks that a specialthe difference between swifts and swallows is not. They lead a similar way of life: these birds feed on insects caught on the fly in the air; and those, and others - are excellent flyers. The shape of the beak in them has a similarity: short with a wide cut.
In the air these birds are almost all day, writing out intricate pirouettes. On the land of swifts and swallows you will rarely see. In the spring they come to us from warm edges, in the autumn fly away back.
In fact, these birds have a lot of differences. So, let's compare swallows and swifts. They have much more differences than similarities. They are not even "close relatives", since they belong to different species. Swifts - to the detachment of long-winged (shearing), and swallows - to passerines.
If we compare swallows and swifts withearth, watching them in flight, you can see the difference in maneuverability. The second fly quickly and very quickly, and the first write in the air intricate pirouettes. Swifts in flight speed are champions among birds: it is known that they can develop it up to 150 km / h. Swallows on this indicator they lose (up to 60 km / h), but they outperform them in maneuverability.
When the birds are in the air, you can holdanother comparison. Swallows and swifts can be distinguished by the color of the abdomen, which is clearly visible from below. The first white breast, and the second is dark. Swift, unlike swallows, never folds the wings. Flying swifts give out loud screams, especially cutting ears, when their packs rush over the ground in search of prey.
If you can get a closer look at the birds and holda more detailed comparison of swallows and swifts, you can see other differences, most important of which is the structure of the feet. At the swallow, she, like most birds, has four fingers, three of which are forward, and the fourth - back. Swifts forward all four fingers. This gives them the ability to cling to the legs for any vertical surface. Sometimes Swifts even sleep, clinging to their claws against the wall.
The chattering of swallows turns into melodic trills,and in Swifts the screams sometimes turn into squeals. Another difference is the structure of the tail and wings. At swallows, the tail is forked and longer than that of swifts. The wings of the second are bigger and wider, they have a crescent shape.
Birds differ and plumage. At the swallows it is bluish, shiny, with a black outturn, a white breast. On the head "cap" reddish-red, under the throat a bright spot. Swifts have a dark color with a slightly greenish tint and a white speck on the throat.
The way of life of birds is also different. The chicks in the nest are hatching both a swift and a swallow. The difference is that the second wind their nests under the roofs of houses, under the eaves. They have 4-5 chicks who wait with their mouths open, when the parents put another portion of food there.
With the onset of cold weather, both one and the other fly awaySouth. Places where swallows and swifts winter: South Africa, Madagascar. Birds have to travel a great distance. On the way, they are 5-6 weeks, feeding on the fly. Night flocks of birds spend in the reeds.
If in the road they were caught by bad weather,travelers can spend a few days in a daze, hiding in caves. Before the onset of favorable weather, all life processes in their bodies slow down. In spring they will overcome the same long path and return to their nests.
