About the Himalayan Swiftlet
The Himalayan swiftlet is a small swift. It is a common colonial breeder in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Some populations are migratory.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This 13–14 cm long swiftlet has swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. The body is slender, and the tail is forked. It is, in many respects, a typical swift, having narrow wings for fast flight, and a wide gape and small beak surrounded by bristles for catching insects in flight. Its legs are very short, preventing the bird from perching, but allowing it to cling to vertical surfaces. It is mainly grey-brown above and paler brown below. It has a pale grey rump and a pale patch above and behind the bill. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile has a less distinct rump.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Yemen.
When to see it
Peak activity in February · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Uniform SwiftletAerodramus vanikorensisThe uniform swiftlet is a gregarious, medium-sized swiftlet with a shallowly forked tail.
Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginaeIt is 11–12 centimetres (4.3–4.7 in) long with a wing length of 107–118.2 millimetres (4.21–4.65 in) and a weight of 10.5–12.5 grams (0.37–0.44 oz).
White-rumped SwiftletAerodramus spodiopygiusThe white-rumped swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.
Learn the Himalayan Swiftlet for real
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