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Philippine Spinetail

Mearnsia picina

Near Threatened

Envergadura

32,3 cm

Peso

11,5 g

Familia

Apodidae

Orden

Caprimulgiformes

Acerca de

A large spinetail swift (12-13 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Dark plumage with short, spine-tipped tail feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over lowland and montane forest. Colonial nester in tree hollows and cliff crevices. Uncommon and poorly studied.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergadura	32,3 cm	12.7 in
Peso	11,5 g	0.41 oz

Identificación

Plumaje

Tiny but long-winged; dark blackish-brown overall; pale grey-white throat and chin; short spiny tail projections visible at close range; Philippine endemic; small size contrasts with proportionally very long scythe-like wings.

Habitat & Range

🌲 Forest

Distribución geográfica

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao and adjacent southern islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and edge. Uncommon.

Diet & Feeding

Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open country.

Estado de conservación

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Sonido

Canto

High-pitched, buzzy twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' in fast low-level flight over Philippine forest; calls rapidly in tight flocks; distinctive wing sound in fast aerial display

Taxonomía

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Orden	Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts)
Familia	Apodidae (Swifts)
Genus	Mearnsia
Especies	Mearnsia picina

Distribution

Philippine Spinetail has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Presente Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Preguntas frecuentes

What does the Philippine Spinetail eat?

Aerial diet of small flying insects and spiders; forages at speed over forest and open country.

Where does the Philippine Spinetail live?

Endemic to the Philippines, found on Mindanao and adjacent southern islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and edge. Uncommon.

Is the Philippine Spinetail endangered?

The Philippine Spinetail has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

What does the Philippine Spinetail sound like?

High-pitched, buzzy twittering; sharp 'tsit-tsit' in fast low-level flight over Philippine forest; calls rapidly in tight flocks; distinctive wing sound in fast aerial display

How big is the Philippine Spinetail?

The Philippine Spinetail has a wingspan of 32.3 cm, weight of 11.5 g.

What order and family does the Philippine Spinetail belong to?

The Philippine Spinetail (Mearnsia picina) belongs to the order Caprimulgiformes and the family Apodidae.