About the Purple Needletail
The purple needletail, or hagibas in Tagalog, is arguably the largest swift in the world. It is native to the Philippine archipelago and the Minahasa Peninsula (Sulawesi).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This 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. The wingspan can range up to 60 cm (24 in), with a wing chord length of 20.3 to 23.4 cm (8.0 to 9.2 in). Only the related brown-backed needletail of Southeast Asia and the white-naped swift of Central America rival this species for size and wingspan, with the latter averaging 5 g (0.18 oz) less than this needletail in weight.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Purple Needletail lives
When to see the Purple Needletail
Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Silver-backed NeedletailHirundapus cochinchinensisThe silver-backed needletail is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.
Brown-backed NeedletailHirundapus giganteusThe brown-backed needletail, or brown needletail, is a large swift.
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.
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