- Aerodramus infuscatus
Includes: Halmahera Swiftlet; Seram Swiftlet; Sulawesi Swiftlet
Identification
A small Swiftlet (10cm), very similar to Uniform Swiftlet and Glossy Swiftlet and very difficult to identify in field.
- Black-brown upperparts
- Rump uniform or slightly paler, sororum has distinct grey-white rump band
- Pale-brown underparts
- Forked tail
- In hand: extensively white rami on rump feathers
Distribution
Found in Indonesia on Sulawesi and the Moluccas.
Common in parts of its range.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Philippine Swiftlet, Mountain Swiftlet, White-rumped Swiftlet and Australian Swiftlet. Several of these were formerly considered to be conspecific with Moluccan Swiftlet. Relationsships in this group are still poorly understood.
Like other Aerodramus Swiftles this species has been placed in genus Collocalia.
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- A.i. infuscatus on the Northern Moluccas - Halmahera Swiftlet
- A.i. ceramensis on the Southern Moluccas - Seram Swiftlet
- A.i. sororum on Sulawesi - Sulawesi Swiftlet
All three subspecies were formerly treated as full species. In progress work indicates that the genetic differentiation is very shallow[3].
Habitat
Moist lowland and montane forests. Generally higher than other Swiftlets.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, taken in flight. Noted to feed above canopy while Glossy Swiftlet is feeding beneath canopy level.
Not much information about nesting. Believed to make a nest with vegetable matter, attached to a cave wall.
Thought to be resident or nomadic within range.
Vocalisation
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, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Website describing changes in Clements checklist per 2024
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Moluccan Swiftlet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moluccan_Swiftlet
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
