Brown-backed Needletail
Hirundapus giganteus
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About
A very large needletail swift (22-25 cm), the largest swift in Asia. Dark brown plumage with a paler brown back. Spine-tipped tail. Found in montane forests from India to Southeast Asia. Aerial insectivore with powerful flight. Often seen soaring over mountain ridges.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 40.6 cm | 16.0 in |
| Weight | 145.0 g | 5.11 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Very large; dark brown upperparts with bronze gloss; no pale back saddle unlike congeners; white throat patch; white undertail coverts; short spiny tail; largest Hirundapus; brown rather than black overall tone with no contrasting white back patch.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Borneo and the Philippines. Resident in lowland and hill forest, soaring over ridges.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial insectivore feeding on tiny flies, beetles, and ballooning spiders in rapid powerful aerial pursuit.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC.
Clutch Size
3-5
Sound
Song
Rough, buzzy chatter with intermittent higher squeaks; coarse twittering delivered continuously throughout aerial foraging.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Hirundapus |
| Species | Hirundapus giganteus |
Distribution
Brown-backed Needletail has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Brown-backed Needletail eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family