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Hemiprocne mystacea

Photo by mehdhalaouate

[edit] Identification

[edit] Distribution

In Indonesia on West Papua and the Moluccas, on Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

Six subspecies recognized:

• H.m. confirmata from the Moluccas ot Aru Islands
• H.m. mystacea on New Guinea and some adjacent islands
• H.m. aeroplanes on most of the Bismarck Archipelago
• H.m. macrura on Admirality Islands
• H.m. woodfordiana on most of the Solomon Islands and Feni Island. Also on Bougainville
• H.m. carbonaria on Bauro Island in the Solomons.

[edit] Habitat

Moist lowland forest, mangrove forest, beach-strand woodland, scattered trees and edge of inland forest (prefering gallery forest n savannas).

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects (bees, ants, bugs and beetles). Like the other Treeswifts it forages from an exposed perch. Makes long sorties, sometimes well over the canopy, usually returning to the same perch.
Breeds all year, only from March there are no nest records. Pairs are believed to be territorial. Nest is a tiny saucer, fixed on the top of a high branch. Lays 1 egg.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages