From Opus

Cypsiurus balasiensis

[edit] Identification

A small swift with extremly long and narrow wings.

• Body brownish, darkest on crown, rump slightly paler
• Wings thin and very long
• Long and narrow tail-streamers (often held folded)
• Juveniles are paler and have slightly shorter tail-streamers

[edit] Distribution

Southeast Asia: Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Common and locally abundant. Not globally threatened.

[edit] Taxonomy

Four subspecies recognized

• C.b. balasiensis on the Indian Subcontinent west of Assam
• C.b. infumatus from Assam to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo
• C.b. bartelsorum on Java and Bali
• C.b. pallidor on the Philippines

Forms a superspecis with the African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus and was also formerly lumped with this species.

[edit] Habitat

Occurs wherever fan and betelnut palms are present. Cities, towns, cultivated area, rarer in forested areas. Up to 1500m.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects, eg. flying ants, termites and beetles. Highly gregarious, often found in foraging in mixed flocks with Little Swifts.
Breeds all year round with local peaks. Nest built in palm fronds, sometimes in thatched roofs, usually small groups breeding together. The nest is a tiny half-cup, attached on three sides to palm leaves. The two eggs are not glued to nest as in African Palm Swift.
Resident.

[edit] External Links