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Halmahera Swiftlet - BirdForum Opus

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Aerodramus infuscatus

Identification

A small Swiftlet (10cm - 4 in),

  • Black-brown upperparts
  • Rump uniform or slightly paler, sororum has distinct grey-white rump band
  • Pale-brown underparts
  • Forked tail
  • In hand: extensively white rami on rump feathers

Similar Species

Very similar to Uniform Swiftlet and Glossy Swiftlet and very difficult to identify in field.

Distribution

Found in Indonesia in northern Moluccas (Halmahera, Ternate and Morotai); sight records from Bacan possibly this species. Common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].
It was formerly included in Moluccan Swiftlet, together with Seram Swiftlet and Sulawesi Swiftlet.
Forms a superspecies with Philippine Swiftlet, Mountain Swiftlet, White-rumped Swiftlet and Australian Swiftlet. Also considered to be conspecific with White-rumped Swiftlet. Relationsships in this group are still poorly understood.
Like other Aerodramus Swiftles this species is often placed in Collocalia.

Habitat

Moist lowland forest and montanes. Generally higher than other Swiftlets.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects, taken in flight. Noted to feed above canopy while Glossy Swiftlet is feeding beneath canopy level.

Breeding

Not much information about nesting. Believed to make a nest with vegetable matter, attached to a cave wall.

Movements

Thought to be resident or nomadic within range.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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