Alternative name: Marquesas Swiftlet
- Aerodramus ocistus
Identification
With 11cm a small Swiftlet, somehow intermediate between Atiu Swiftlet and Tahiti Swiftlet.
- Long, forked tail
- Dark-brown upperparts with grey rump
- Grey-brown underparts
Distribution
Endemic to the Marquesas in French Polynesia in the South Pacific.
Common on most islands, but probably suffering from predation of introduced Common Myna.
Taxonomy
Like other Aerodramus Swiftles this species is often placed in Collocalia.
Some authors treat this species as conspecific with Atiu Swiftlet and Tahiti Swiftlet or as forming a superspecies with them. Some authors are merging this bird with Tahiti Swiftlet.
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- A.o. ocistus in the Northern Marquesas (Eiao, Nuku Hiva and Ua Huka)
- A.o. gilliardi in the Southern Marquesas (Ua Pu, Hiva Oa and Tahuata)
Habitat
Found over rocky valleys and wet forest.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, taken in flight. Gregarious and often in big flocks, foraging slowly through forest canopy.
Nest in October in colonies, nesting either in shallow depressions under overhanging rocks and coastal cliffs or caves. The nest is of vegetable matters hold together with saliva. Capable of echolocation.
Resident.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Marquesan Swiftlet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 July 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Marquesan_Swiftlet
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
