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Mountain Swiftlet Aerodramus hirundinaceus Scientific name definitions

Philip Chantler and Peter F. D. Boesman
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated July 10, 2014

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

11–13 cm. A medium-sized swiftlet with a moderately forked tail; uniform dark brown upperparts, some birds with a suggestion of a paler rump; underparts pale grey to mid-grey, though mid-throat can be dark. Differs from sympatric A. vanikorensis by feathered tarsi, tiny, more decurved bill, greater white in rami of back, darker, more blue-glossed upperparts and clearly paler underparts. Race baru has very dark upperparts, browner underparts and heavy tarsal feathering; excelsus much larger than nominate. Species capable of echolocation.

Systematics History

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Has been thought to be close to A. infuscatus, A. terraereginae, A. mearnsi and A. spodiopygius. Previously placed in composite species A. francicus or, alternatively, in A. vanikorensis; considered conspecific with A. spodiopygius by some authors. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies

SUBSPECIES

Aerodramus hirundinaceus baru Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Yapen I (in Geelvink Bay, NW New Guinea).
SUBSPECIES

Aerodramus hirundinaceus excelsus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

above 1600 m in Snow Mts and Carstenz peaks, in WC New Guinea.
SUBSPECIES

Aerodramus hirundinaceus hirundinaceus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

much of montane New Guinea, also Karkar I (off NE coast) and Goodenough I (in D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago).

Distribution

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Habitat

Occurs over wide range of habitats, mainly in highlands, where recorded to 4000 m. Relatively low numbers can be encountered in lowlands where there are adjacent hills.

Movement

Nomadic movements may account for occasional absence of the species from some parts of range.

Diet and Foraging

Gregarious, commonly foraging in association with other swifts.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Main vocalization is a continuously repeated rhythmic phrase, which consists of 2–3 whining or reeling notes followed by more subdued descending burry elements, “wee..wee..dj-dj-djrrrr” or “ree..ree..dj-dj-djrrr”. This results in a pleasant-sounding twittering chatter. Known to use echolocation by emitting clicking notes within its nesting caves.

Breeding

Active colony noted late Sept, Tari District, Southern Highlands Province; birds entering possible nest-site in Jun on Karkar I. Colonial breeder. Externally supported nest is bulky structure of mosses, filmy ferns, grasses and rootlets bound to central core, sited in dimly lit or completely dark situations; in some high-altitude breeding caves nests can be sited on floor, presumably because their main predators there, snakes, are infrequent above 1000 m. Little or no saliva used for agglutination or attachment to narrow rock ledge or niche. One egg.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Generally scarce in lowlands, locally common to abundant in highlands. Commonly represented in collections of swiftlets from New Guinea over many decades.
Distribution of the Mountain Swiftlet - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Mountain Swiftlet

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Chantler, P. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Mountain Swiftlet (Aerodramus hirundinaceus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.mouswi2.01
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