Silver-rumped Spinetail
Rhaphidura leucopygialis
Small, bullet-shaped swift with rather broad-based wings. Dark (glossy blue in optimal light) with extensive silvery rump patch. Named for thin protrusions from the tail, only sometimes visible at close range. Forages aerially over forest and edge habitat, often near water, sometimes in large numbers and among other swift species. Gives a rapid-fire, chattering trill.
Identification
The silver-rumped spinetail or silver-rumped needletail (Rhaphidura leucopygialis, sometimes spelled Raphidura leucopygialis) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Research on the silver- Rumped spine tail has utilized facultative heterothermy, or even torpor, as a physiological mechanism to reduce its metabolic rate and conserve energy in its tropical environment.
Taxonomy
Genus: Rhaphidura; Family: Apodidae; Order: Apodiformes.
- Scientific name
- Rhaphidura leucopygialis
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1849)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Rhaphidura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-tailed Flatbill
Ramphotrigon ruficauda
Smallish flycatcher, characteristic of forests on sandy soils and seasonally flooded forests. Heard more often than seen. Best told by bright rufous tail and flight feather edges contrasting with greenish-brown body. Singles or pairs inhabit the mid-story of tall forest and typically do not associate with other species. Sits upright and sallies to foliage for insects. In western Amazonia, told from Dusky-tailed Flatbill by clearer (less mottled) breast and extensive rufous in wings and tail. Voice is a single, lazy whistle, with characteristic strong inflection in the middle.
Silky-tailed Nightjar
Antrostomus sericocaudatus
Large nightjar with dark plumage and long wings. Has blackish-brown broad spots and streaks above and is brown and white spotted below. Note the buffy collar on the nape. Males have a white tipped tail while the female’s tail tips are buffy. Found at the forest edge and in the forest interior, preferring thickets and areas with a bamboo understory. The song is a mournful and undulating “doh, wheo, eeo,” often repeated for long periods.
Malagasy Turtle-Dove
Nesoenas picturatus
Large, chunky dove with big white corners to the tail. Although common, it is shy, most often seen when flying away along a road or a forest path. Found in all types of forest and degraded habitats with woody vegetation. Voice is a series of hollow, rising “hoooo” notes, with a brief pause between each note. Pinkish and rufous coloration is unlike that of any other dove in its range.
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