Mountain Swiftlet

The plum-red face and pink “blush” on the white chest of the cartoonish-looking male are unique. Plainer female and juvenile can be difficult to separate from female Black-naped Fruit Dove; look out for Jambu’s bright white eye-ring and orange bill. Generally uncommon and nomadic; roams widely across lowland and foothill forests, where it seeks out fruiting trees. Forages quietly in the canopy, typically singly or in pairs.

A medium-sized bird of low- to mid-elevation montane forest and edge on Mindanao. Overall pale brown with a slightly paler belly, a black face, crown, tail, bottom half of the wing, and shoulder patch, a white rump, and a prominent white cheek. Note the thick black bill. Feeds on berries and flowers and joins mixed-species flocks in the non-breeding season. No similar birds occur in its range. Voice includes medium-pitched clear, downslurred piping calls, “piuu! piuu,” sometimes with a flat first note: “piii! piuu!”

Fairly distinctive swift found in northwestern South America. Medium-sized with slightly notched tail. Blackish overall with a white throat and white band across the lower belly. Namesake white tips on tail can be difficult to see. Compare with Andean Swift, which has longer, more sickle-shaped wings, a deeper forked tail, and more extensive white on the breast. White-tipped is typically found in small flocks at fairly high elevations, from around 1,300 to 2,700 m (higher than Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift), and often does not associate with other swift species. Occurs over a variety of habitats including forest and drier, more open areas.