Seychelles Swiftlet
Aerodramus elaphrus
Small gray swift with a slightly paler rump and belly. Flight is fast but erratic, with the wings pushed forward. Only known nesting sites are in a few caves, but can be seen in flight over all habitats on the granitic islands of the Seychelles. The calls include high-pitched twitters and echolocation clicks. Usually easy to identify, as it is the only resident swift on the Seychelles. Vagrant swifts have longer wings and a longer, forked tail.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aerodramus elaphrus
- Authority
- (Oberholser, 1906)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Aerodramus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- IO : Mahé, Praslin and La Digue (Inner Is., ne Seychelles)
- Non-breeding range
- wanders to North, Silhouette and Aride (Inner Is., ne Seychelles)
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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