Mountain Swiftlet
Aerodramus hirundinaceus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="aerodramus-hirundinaceus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) found in montane regions of New Guinea at 1,500-3,800 m elevation. Dark grey-brown plumage. Aerial insectivore, foraging above cloud forest canopy. Colonial nester in cave entrances and rock crevices. Uses echolocation for cave navigation.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 23.0 cm | 9.1 in |
| Weight | 9.700000000000001 g | 0.34 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Small; dark blackish-grey upperparts; pale grey rump band; underparts pale greyish-white; forked tail; New Guinea montane endemic; similar to White-rumped Swiftlet but greyer overall and restricted to high-altitude zones.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found in montane New Guinea at 1,200–3,900 m. Resident in montane rainforest, moss forest, and subalpine grassland. Common in highlands.
Diet & Feeding
Entirely airborne insectivore; feeds on minute flying insects and web-dispersing spiders over open habitats.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
High, thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' over New Guinea highlands; echolocation clicks used in cave roosts; calls weakly in flight; colonial; flock calls produce soft chittering
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Aerodramus |
| Species | Aerodramus hirundinaceus |
Distribution
Mountain Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Mountain Swiftlet eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family