Plume-toed Swiftlet
Collocalia affinis
The Plume-toed Swiftlet (Collocalia affinis) is a uncommon swift found in 7 countries. The plume-toed swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae.
About the Plume-toed Swiftlet
The plume-toed swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae. It is found on some eastern Indian Ocean islands, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and lowland Borneo.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The plume-toed swiftlet is 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) in length with a square tail. The back and upper surface of the wings are uniformly dark greenish-blue with a moderate gloss. The throat and upper breast are dark grey merging into large greyish chevrons over the lower breast and flanks, usually becoming white over the belly. There is a tuft of small feathers on the hallux, the rear facing toe. This species lacks a pale contrasting rump and has no white spots on the inner webs of the tail feathers.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Myanmar (Burma).
When to see it
The Plume-toed Swiftlet can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Plume-toed Swiftlet?
- The plume-toed swiftlet is 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in) in length with a square tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Plume-toed Swiftlet?
- The Plume-toed Swiftlet occurs in 7 countries, including Malaysia, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
- What birds look similar to a Plume-toed Swiftlet?
- The Plume-toed Swiftlet is most easily confused with the Glossy Swiftlet, the Linchi Swiftlet and the Grey-rumped Swiftlet.
Learn the Plume-toed Swiftlet for real
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