- Aerodramus terraereginus
Identification
With 11cm a medium-sized Swiftlet.
- Dark brown upperparts
- Paler rump (some birds almost uniform)
- Pale grey-brown underparts, looking almost white in the sun
- Shallowly forked tail
Distribution
Endemic to Australia, there only found in Queensland.
Common in lowlands, although numbers in several colonies are decreasing.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Philippine Swiftlet, Moluccan Swiftlet, Mountain Swiftlet and White-rumped Swiftlet and is considered to be conspecific with the last one by some authors, by others believed to be conspecific with Uniform Swiftlet. Also placed in composite species Aerodramus francicus (Grey-rumped Swiftlet, now only Mascarene Swiftlet).
Two subspecies recognized:
- A.t. terraereginus in coastal N Queensland
- A.t. chillagoensis in Chillagoe, Palmer and Mitchell district in Queensland. This form has also been proposed as full species.
Like other Aerodramus Swiftles this species is often placed in Collocalia.
Habitat
Usually over dry savanna but also seen over rainforest margin.
Behaviour
Takes insects in flight.
Breeding season between October and March. Nests in colonies in caves. Nest is shallower than the one of White-rumped Swift, made with grass and hold together with firm saliva. Lays one egg.
Resident.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
