Volcano swiftlet

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Volcano swiftlet
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. vulcanorum
Binomial name
Aerodramus vulcanorum
(Stresemann, 1926)

The volcano swiftlet (Aerodramus vulcanorum or Collocalia vulcanorum) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, formerly considered conspecific with the Himalayan swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris).The Volcano swiftlet is commonly measured at 13 to 14 cm long and characterized as dark gray with an unmissable brown rump band, whereas younger individuals show a less defined band. They can be easily heard because of the unique "Teeree teereeeee teeereeeee" clicking sound they make. Nothing is known about the diet of this bird. Many species of Aerodramus swiftlets nest colonially in caves, which leads them to use echolocation to navigate through the dark environments like caves and crevices, as well as during the twilight hours. While the swiftlet can echolocate like the very known species of the bat, they are much less educated and less refined in using it for capturing prey. This echolocation capability distinguishes Aerodramus from closely related genera like hydrochous and most species within Collocalia. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Description

The main distinguishing characteristics of the volcano swiftlet are its tail fork and black wings that appear glossed with a purple shimmer. One of the defining differences between males and females is the condition of the tarsus. The male swiftlet has a bare tarsus while the female has a feathered tarsus. Both sexes however share the distinctive feature of having white rami (the branching structures extending from the feather shaft giving the feather their texture and aiding in flight). As for the young volcano swiftlets, they have a less defined rump band and fewer feathers in the tarsus. [3]

Habitat

The few places in the world where you will be able to find a volcano swiftlet in the wild is in the island of Java in Indonesia and in the forest of Bali. The volcano swiftlet is commonly spotted in six volcanic locations on the island of Java. These volcanoes are Mount Gede, Mount Pangrango, Tangkuban Perahu, Mount Ciremai, Mount Slamet and the Yang Highlands. The swiftlet tends to nest in rock crevices at 2200–3000 meters, although they can also be found around peaks and ridges of volcanoes over mountainous forest areas. The active elevation range of this species plays a major role in where it lives. Some swiftlets can also live in craters, but this is not common because they stay in the same places year-round and don't migrate. All known breeding sites of the volcano swiftlet are on active volcanoes, which highlights its unique adaptation to volatile conditions. This species is not strictly residential and it moves within its native range. [4] [3]

Echolocation

Many species of Aerodramus swiftlets nest colonially in caves, which leads them to use echolocation to navigate through the dark environments like caves and crevices, as well as during the twilight hours. While the swiftlet can echolocate (like a bat) they are much less educated and less refined in using it for capturing prey. This echolocation capability distinguishes Aerodramus from closely related genera, such as Hydrochous, and most species within Collocalia. [2]

Population

It is estimated that there are typically around 25 pairs in a colony and there is around one colony per site, so there are probably around 400 volcano swiftlets in the world. Due to their airborne nature, the volcano swiftlet is highly skilled in colonizing islands. Several species exhibit widespread distribution across large areas of archipelagos. [2] [3]

Threats

There aren't many threats to the Volcano Swiftlet species other than an occasional extinction because of volcanic activity, as all of their known breeding sites are on active volcanoes. An extinction could potentially happen at any time. [4] [3]

Diet

Little is known about the diet of the Volcano swiftlet. However, like other swiftlets, it is gathered that they most likely forage in flight, catching small insects and possibly other airborne prey. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swift (bird)</span> Family of birds

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds. The treeswifts are closely related to the true swifts, but form a separate family, the Hemiprocnidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiftlet</span> Tribe of birds in the swift family

Swiftlets are birds from the four genera Aerodramus, Collocalia, Hydrochous and Schoutedenapus, which form the tribe Collocaliini within the swift family Apodidae. The group contains around thirty species mostly confined to southern Asia, south Pacific islands, and northeastern Australia, all within the tropical and subtropical regions. They are in many respects typical members of the Apodidae, having narrow wings for fast flight, with a wide gape and small reduced beak surrounded by bristles for catching insects in flight. What distinguishes many but not all species from other swifts and indeed almost all other birds is their ability to use a simple but effective form of echolocation to navigate in total darkness through the chasms and shafts of the caves where they roost at night and breed.

<i>Aerodramus</i> Genus of birds

Aerodramus is a genus of small, dark, cave-nesting birds in the Collocaliini tribe of the swift family. Its members are confined to tropical and subtropical regions in southern Asia, Oceania and northeastern Australia. Many of its members were formerly classified in Collocalia, but were first placed in a separate genus by American ornithologist Harry Church Oberholser in 1906.

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

The uniform swiftlet, also known as the Vanikoro swiftlet or lowland swiftlet, is a gregarious, medium-sized swiftlet with a shallowly forked tail. The colouring is dark grey-brown, darker on the upperparts with somewhat paler underparts, especially on chin and throat. This species is widespread from the Philippines through Wallacea, New Guinea and Melanesia. It forages for flying insects primarily in lowland forests and open areas. It nests in caves where it uses its sense of echolocation, rare in birds, to navigate.

<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">Seychelles swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The Seychelles swiftlet is a small bird of the swift family. It is found only in the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean.

<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.

<i>Collocalia</i> Genus of birds

Collocalia is a genus of swifts, containing some of the smaller species termed "swiftlets". Formerly a catch-all genus for these, a number of its former members are now normally placed in Aerodramus.

The Mariana swiftlet or Guam swiftlet is a species of swiftlet in the family Apodidae.

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

The glossy swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and eastwards to New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands.

<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.

The Tahiti swiftlet or Polynesian swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. While often compared to the Marquesan Swiftlet, this bird is often more pale faced. The subspecies is the Monotypic which means it does not include a subspecies.

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

The cave swiftlet or linchi swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found on the Indonesia islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali. It is a woodland species and nests in caves. The Bornean swiftlet was considered a subspecies, but is now usually considered distinct.

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

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

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

The Atiu swiftlet or Sawtell's Swiftlet is a species of bird in the swift family, endemic to Atiu in the Cook Islands.

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

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

The Australian swiftlet is a small bird belonging to the genus Aerodramus in the swift family, Apodidae. It is endemic to Queensland in north-eastern Australia. It was formerly included in the white-rumped swiftlet but is now commonly treated as a separate species. It has two subspecies which are occasionally regarded as two separate species: A. t. terraereginae and A. t. chillagoensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apodinae</span> Subfamily of birds

The Apodinae are a subfamily of swifts and contain the following species:

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2017). "Aerodramus vulcanorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T22686543A110969594. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22686543A110969594.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Rheindt, Frank E (March 11, 2014). "Raffles Bulletin of Zoology". "Extensive Diversification across Islands in the Echolocating Aerodramus Swiftlets.". 62: 89–99 – via EBSCO HOST.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 del Hoyo, Josep; Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Volcano Swiftlet (Aerodramus vulcanorum), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.volswi1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN   2771-3105.
  4. 1 2 3 BirdLife International. 2023. Aerodramus vulcanorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T22686543A231293556. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22686543A231293556.en. Accessed on 14 October 2024.


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