Ridgetop Swiftlet
Collocalia isonota
The Ridgetop Swiftlet (Collocalia isonota) is a rare swift found only in the Philippines. The ridgetop swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae.
About the Ridgetop Swiftlet
The ridgetop swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it is found on Luzon, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The ridgetop 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 a dark dull blue with a moderate green gloss. The rump is sometimes slightly paler due to the white margins of feathers forming the uppertail coverts. The throat and upper breast are dark grey with fine white scalloping merging into larger greyish chevrons over the lower breast and flanks, becoming white over the belly. There is sometimes a tuft of small feathers on the hallux, the rear facing toe.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Ridgetop Swiftlet can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Ridgetop Swiftlet?
- The ridgetop 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 Ridgetop Swiftlet?
- The Ridgetop Swiftlet is endemic to the Philippines, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Ridgetop Swiftlet?
- The Ridgetop Swiftlet is most easily confused with the Pygmy Swiftlet, the Drab Swiftlet and the Satin Swiftlet.
Learn the Ridgetop Swiftlet for real
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