Philippine swiftlet

Last updated

Philippine swiftlet
Philippine Swiftlet.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Genus: Aerodramus
Species:
A. mearnsi
Binomial name
Aerodramus mearnsi
(Oberholser, 1912)

The Philippine swiftlet (Aerodramus mearnsi, formerly Collocalia mearnsi) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Contents

Its natural habitats are or tropical dry forests, tropical moist lowland forests, and tropical moist montane forests.

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "Uncommon dark swiftlet. Endemic to a smattering of the Philippines islands, from Luzon to Mindanao to Palawan. Habitat can be helpful in identifying this confusing species; generally favors ridges and slopes in montane and submontane areas above 700-800 meters. Readily confused with significantly larger Ameline Swiftlet, but present species has a more squared-off-looking tail (fork is shallow and often unnoticeable), tends to fly lower and more erratically, and more often forms flocks. Combination of dark rump, unglossed dark back, and medium size separates this species from Gray-rumped Swiftlet, Pygmy Swiftlet, and Ridgetop Swiftlet. Frequently calls while in flight, giving a squeaky chattering twitter." [2]

This species is monotypic.

Ecology and behavior

Diet is unknown but it is presumed to have the typical diet of insects caught in flight. Nests consist of moss held together with saliva which does not remain moist but hardens. Breeds May on Mindoro. Four eggs. Breeds in caves and rock cavities. Nest made of moss held together with saliva where it lays 4 eggs. Recorded breeding in May in Mindoro. [3]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats are tropical submontane forest beginning at 700 meters above sea level.

It is listed as Least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with the population believed to be stable. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himalayan swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The Himalayan swiftlet is a small swift. It is a common colonial breeder in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Some populations are migratory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine megapode</span> Species of bird

The Philippine megapode, also known as the Philippine scrubfowl or the Tabon scrubfowl, is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It is found in the Philippines, northeastern Borneo, and Sulawesi. It has a wide range of natural habitats which include tropical dry forest, tropical moist lowland forest, tropical moist montane forest and small islands. The species was named after the collector Hugh Cuming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edible-nest swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The edible-nest swiftlet, also known as the white-nest swiftlet, is a small bird of the swift family which is found in Southeast Asia. Its opaque and whitish bird nest is made exclusively of solidified saliva and is the main ingredient of bird's nest soup, a delicacy of Chinese cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameline swiftlet</span> Subspecies of bird

The Ameline swiftlet, also known as the grey swiftlet, was formerly considered as a subspecies of the uniform swiftlet. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. Despite some fears around conservation, the species remains a Least-concern species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germain's swiftlet</span> Species of bird

Germain's swiftlet is a species of swift.

The mountain swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the island of New Guinea and the nearby islands of Karkar, Yapen and Goodenough. It was once placed in the genus Collocalia but has been moved, with many others, to Aerodramus. The species is divided into three subspecies, with the nominate, A. h. hirundinacea ranging over most of New Guinea, the subspecies A. h. excelsus occurring over 1600 m in the Snow Mountains and Cartenz peaks of Irian Jaya and A. h. baru being restricted to Yapen Island. It occurs in alpine areas from 500 m to the treeline. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests and other mountainous habitats in New Guinea. It also occurs in lower numbers in the lowlands near hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-nest swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The black-nest swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-rumped swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The white-rumped swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.

The pygmy swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehead's swiftlet</span> Species of bird

Whitehead's swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is named after the British explorer John Whitehead (1860–1899). Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its status is insufficiently known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine nightjar</span> Species of bird

The Philippine nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its local names are kandarapa (Tagalog) and tagolilong (Cebuano).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The pygmy flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiskered pitta</span> Species of bird

The whiskered pitta is a rare species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines. Along with the Azure-breasted pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country. This bird is the largest pitta in the country reaching 23 cm long and 116 grams in mass. It has a brownish head, blue breast, and red belly. It has broad ash malar or "whiskers". Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping. It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzon water redstart</span> Species of bird

The Luzon water redstart, also known as the Luzon redstart, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found primarily on Luzon with no records in Mindoro since 1965. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, tropical moist montane forest, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine green pigeon</span> Species of bird

The Philippine green pigeon is a pigeon in the genus Treron. It is endemic to the Philippines where it lives in the tropical moist lowland forests. It is part of the pompadour green pigeon complex which it was once conspecific with.

The Mindoro bulbul is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visayan rhabdornis</span> Species of bird

The Visayan rhabdornis is a species of bird currently placed in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is endemic to the central Philippines on the islands of Negros and Panay. It was previously considered a subspecies of the stripe-breasted rhabdornis. It lives in tropical moist montane forest and is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindoro racket-tail</span> Species of bird

The Mindoro racket-tail is a species of parrot in the Psittaculinae family. It was formerly considered conspecific with the blue-crowned racket-tail. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines and it occurs in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping for the cage-bird trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridgetop swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The ridgetop swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine shortwing</span> Species of bird

The Philippine shortwing is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it favours montane forest. It was once conspecific with the White-browed Shortwing.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Aerodramus mearnsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22686519A93115800. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686519A93115800.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. "Philippine Swiftlet - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  3. Chantler, Philip; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Philippine Swiftlet (Aerodramus mearnsi), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.phiswi1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN   2771-3105.
  4. IUCN (2016-10-01). Aerodramus mearnsi: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22686519A93115800 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22686519a93115800.en.