About the Drab Swiftlet
The drab swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the glossy swiftlet.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The drab swiftlet is 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) in length with a square tail. It has a satin grayish-blue back with slightly glossy crown and tail. The throat and the upper breast is a mid-gray with a lighter margin to the feathers. The lower breast, flanks and belly are white but the rump is dark. There are dull white spots on the inner webs of the tail feathers. Most birds have a tuft of feathers on the hallux, the rear facing toe. Subspecies perneglecta is darker and has more gloss on the feathers.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Satin SwiftletCollocalia uropygialisThe satin swiftlet is around 10 cm (4 in) in length.
Tenggara SwiftletCollocalia sumbawaeThe Tenggara swiftlet is 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) in length with a square tail.
Ridgetop SwiftletCollocalia isonotaThe ridgetop swiftlet is 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) in length with a square tail.
Learn the Drab Swiftlet for real
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