Gray-rumped Treeswift
Hemiprocne longipennis
Long-winged and long-tailed, this inhabitant of the forest canopy closely resembles a swift, but unlike true swifts, frequently perches upright for long periods of time. Dark gray above with a short, angular crest and dark orange cheek patches. Female is paler below than male. Long tail is sometimes opened in a deep fork when in flight, but appears long and thin when closed. Longer-winged and longer-necked silhouette than swifts in flight. Forages both aerially and by hawking from an exposed perch. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, particularly wet forests. Gives series of squeaky calls.
Identification
Adult males have a distinct dark grey throat and chest contrasting with a white belly. Ear coverts are dull orange red/chestnut colored. Adult females lack the dull orange-red/chestnut coloration on the ear coverts. When perched, the wing tips cross over across the tail. Both sexes have a greenish sheen to the upper parts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Hemiprocne longipennis
- Authority
- (Rafinesque, 1802)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Hemiprocnidae
- Genus
- Hemiprocne
Range and habitat
It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The birds occasionally catch insects in flight by sallying from perches. They build nests on tree branches. The half-saucer-shaped nest is made from hardened saliva interspersed with feathers, mosses, and/or flakes of tree bark. The single egg is reportedly attached to nest surface with saliva. Owing to the fragile nature of the nest, it is attached only on one side to the branch. Thus, the bird does not sit directly on the nest for incubation. Similarly, the parent birds reportedly brooded by perching on the branch above the nest and fluffing their breast feathers out to cover it.<p>Both sexes help incubate the egg. During the shifting of parental care, the partner perches near the incubating adult and carefully slides over the nest.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Slaty Elaenia
Elaenia strepera
Highly migratory flycatcher; it nests from about September through March along the east slope of the Andes in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, then disperses as far as northern South America. It is mostly gray, with a pale belly, faint wingbars, and a broken eyering. Bill is stubby and yellow at the base. Male has a white crown patch that is usually hidden; females and immatures are tinged olive. Inhabits humid forest, and very inconspicuous when not singing. Typical song is an accelerating, toneless rasp, and it remains almost totally silent outside of its breeding range.
Mbulu White-eye
Zosterops mbuluensis
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird with an olive-green back, yellow underparts, and broad white spectacles around the eyes. Found in montane forest, forest edge, and lush gardens and scrub, usually in hyperactive flocks. Separated from similar broad-ringed white-eyes by range. Also somewhat similar to African Yellow and Pale White-eyes, but found at higher elevations, and has a much broader eye-ring. Most common call is a high-pitched, descending rattle. Song is a subdued, chatty sequence of “chew” notes.
Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo
Coccyzus vetula
An impressive long-tailed bird of moist mid-elevation woodlands including secondary growth, where it feeds in the understory by peeking and probing into vegetation in pursuit of insects and lizards. Generally solitary and secretive, but not shy. Note this species’ long, straight, narrow bill and buff underparts. The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is similar in overall shape, but it is somewhat larger with a chestnut belly and a grayish chest; also note its bill is much shorter and somewhat curved compared to Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo. The passingly similar Mangrove Cuckoo is somewhat smaller, shorter billed, lacks an eyering, and has a black mask. Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoos are often first detected by voice: a rapid-fire, ratcheting “k-k-k-kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh-kuh…” that grows slower and louder as it progresses; usually given at a uniform pitch.
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