Alpine Swift

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Cliffs, towns (vagrant).
Diet: Aerial insects.
Best time to spot: White belly; big and pale.

When to look

Scarce or local in the UK. Timing varies by region, so check recent sightings before you travel. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.

How rare is it?

The Alpine Swift sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Little SwiftLegendary · Cliffs (very rare vagrant)
• Crag MartinLegendary · Cliffs
• JackdawCommon · Farmland
• Rock Dove (feral)Common · Towns
• WallcreeperLegendary · Cliffs
• White-throated NeedletailLegendary · Open sky

Kit that helps

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