- Aerodramus brevirostris
Collocalia brevirostris
Includes: Indochinese Swiftlet
Identification
13–14 cm (5-5½ in); a quite large Swiftlet.
- Forked tail
- Dark brown upperparts
- Rump band paler (brevirostris) or slightly paler (innominatus)
- Underparts uniform pale grey
- Tarsi feathered, white rami
Variations
rogersi lacking white rami and tarsus feathering
Distribution
Asia:
Himalayas (India, Nepal, Bhutan) and mountains of NE India and S China to Myanmar, N and W Thailand, N Laos and Vietnam.
Wintering south to Indochina and the Malay Peninsula to Singapore and possibly Sumatra.
Recorded on Andaman Islands.
Common in some parts of its range, uncommon in China.
Taxonomy
Like other Aerodramus Swiftles this species is often placed in Collocalia.
Volcano Swiftlet is often regarded as subspecies of this species. Linked by some authors with Whitehead's Swiftlet.
Subspecies
Two subspecies[1]:
- A.b. brevirostris Himalayas to SC China, Myanmar and Thailand
- A.b. innominatus in Central China and N Vietnam
- A. b. rogersi in the mountains of eastern Burma, western Thailand, northern Laos and Vietnam - sometimes accepted as full species, Indochinese Swiftlet
Habitat
Usually over mountains, prefering wooded river valleys. Also lowlands and cultivated area.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on various insects, taken in flight. Gregarious, usually in flocks up to 50 birds or more. Often seen together with other Swifts or Swallows.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to June. Breeds in colonies on vertical cliffs or in caves, capable of echolocation. Bracket-shaped nest build with vegetable matters, hold together with saliva. Lays two eggs.
Movements
Partial migrant. Small part of population migrating. Due to difficulty of identification data not clear.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2019)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Himalayan Swiftlet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Himalayan_Swiftlet
