Polynesian Swiftlet
Aerodramus leucophaeus
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="aerodramus-leucophaeus"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/aerodramus-leucophaeus/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/aerodramus-leucophaeus/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/aerodramus-leucophaeus/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="aerodramus-leucophaeus"></birdfyi-bird>On this page
Sobre
A small swiftlet (10-11 cm) found across French Polynesia, including the Society, Marquesas, and Austral Islands. Dark grey plumage with whitish underparts. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester. Population fragmented across widely scattered Pacific islands.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Envergadura | 23,7 cm | 9.3 in |
| Peso | 13,4 g | 0.47 oz |
Identificação
Plumagem
Small; dark brown-grey upperparts with minimal gloss; pale grey rump band; underparts whitish-grey; forked tail; East Polynesian endemic from Society Islands; slightly more uniformly dark than some Pacific congeners.
Habitat & Range
Distribuição geográfica
Found across French Polynesia including the Society Islands, Marquesas, and Tuamotu. Resident in forest and open areas; nests in sea caves.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial insectivore catching tiny flying insects, midges, and airborne spiders in fast low-altitude flight near caves.
Estado de conservação
Comportamento e reprodução
Tamanho da postura
2
Som
Canto
High twittering; thin 'chip-chip' over French Polynesian islands; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; light-colored underparts distinguish it visually; calls unremarkable
Taxonomia
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Ordem | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Família | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Aerodramus |
| Espécies | Aerodramus leucophaeus |
Distribution
Polynesian Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Perguntas frequentes
What does the Polynesian Swiftlet eat?
Where does the Polynesian Swiftlet live?
Is the Polynesian Swiftlet endangered?
What does the Polynesian Swiftlet sound like?
How big is the Polynesian Swiftlet?
What order and family does the Polynesian Swiftlet belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family