R thew (Birds & wildlife)
Alpine Swift, adult
Alpine swift (Apus melba)
Meaning behind the name:
Apus = Latin, and derived from Greek meaning "without foot" and refers to their appearance of not having any feet.
melba = Unknown origin and is thought to be of Chinese in 1758. One suggestion is the word could then be a shortened form of the Latin "melanoalba" or "melalba" which means "black, white" which is the colour appearance of this swift.
Did you know?
Swifts are unique with their legs and feet, since they are only designed to cling and not perch. They spend almost their entire lives on the wing, only landing to rear up their young.
The English name "Swift" is just one of several names that was given to it. Others include "House swift" (1668), Black Martin or swift (1678). The Alpine swift wasn't well known here at the time, and the "Common swift" was thought to be a bad omen and surrounded by superstition. However, Swift became common usage for this species from 1768. Swifts, Martins and Swallows had all shared names prior due to their simular resemblance to each other.
Alpine Swift, adult
Alpine swift (Apus melba)
Meaning behind the name:
Apus = Latin, and derived from Greek meaning "without foot" and refers to their appearance of not having any feet.
melba = Unknown origin and is thought to be of Chinese in 1758. One suggestion is the word could then be a shortened form of the Latin "melanoalba" or "melalba" which means "black, white" which is the colour appearance of this swift.
Did you know?
Swifts are unique with their legs and feet, since they are only designed to cling and not perch. They spend almost their entire lives on the wing, only landing to rear up their young.
The English name "Swift" is just one of several names that was given to it. Others include "House swift" (1668), Black Martin or swift (1678). The Alpine swift wasn't well known here at the time, and the "Common swift" was thought to be a bad omen and surrounded by superstition. However, Swift became common usage for this species from 1768. Swifts, Martins and Swallows had all shared names prior due to their simular resemblance to each other.