Alternative names: Philippine Spinetailed Swift; Philippine Needletail
- Mearnsia picina
Chaetura picina
Identification
With 14cm a large Needletail from the Philippines
- Very long wings, distinctively hooked on outerwings and bulging midwing
- Large head
- Short square tail with retrix spines
- Black plumage with white throat and white patches on underwings
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines. Found in the South and Central parts (Mindanao, Samar, Biliran, Cebu, Negros and Leyte).
Uncommon and probably extinct on Cebu.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in genus Chaetura.
Subspecies
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Presumably lowland forest
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, taken in flight. Usually seen at high elevation, single or in small groups.
Nothing known about breeding.
Resident.
References
- 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/
- 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
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Philippine Spinetail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Philippine_Spinetail
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
