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Brown-backed Needletail

Hirundapus giganteus

Least ConcernRareInvertebratesForestCavity nestMedium · 127 g
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 1
Photo: sunnyjosef · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 2
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 3
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 4
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 5
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 6
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 7
Photo: Gerard Chartier · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 8
Photo: Zac Peterson · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 9
Photo: Dan Vickers · CC BY 4.0
Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus), photo 10
Photo: Dan Vickers · CC BY 4.0

About the Brown-backed Needletail

The brown-backed needletail, or brown needletail, is a large swift.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular range
India Thailand Malaysia Sri Lanka Cambodia Indonesia Vietnam Philippines Laos Singapore Myanmar (Burma) Bangladesh China Brunei

When to see it

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Silver-backed Needletail (Hirundapus cochinchinensis) Silver-backed NeedletailHirundapus cochinchinensisThe silver-backed needletail is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) Purple NeedletailHirundapus celebensisThis bird is a huge swift, measuring on average about 25 cm (9.8 in) long and weighing from 170 to 203 g (6.0 to 7.2 oz), with an average of 180 g (6.3 oz) in one study of 22 unsexed adult birds. White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutusThe white-throated needletail, also known as the needle-tailed swift or spine-tailed swift, is a large swift in the genus Hirundapus.

Learn the Brown-backed Needletail for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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