Purple Needletail

Purple Needletail

Taxobox
name = White-naped Swift
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Apodiformes
familia = Apodidae
genus = "Hirundapus"
species = "H. celebensis"
binomial = "Hirundapus celebensis"
binomial_authority = (Sclater, 1865)

The Purple Needletail is the largest swift found in the Old World. This species is distributed from northeastern Sulawesi through the Philippine islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Calayan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Biliran, Mindanao and Basilan.

This bird lives in various forests and open country. They may found in the lowlands or in hills, from 150-2000 m (500-6600 ft) high in elevation.

These are huge swifts, measuring on average about 25 cm (10 inches) long and weighing from 170 to 203 grams (6-7.2 oz). Only the White-naped Swift rival this species for size. The overall plumage is mostly uniform blackish, with a whitish loral marking. This species has the large size, white horseshoe-shaped underside-marking, and the subtly-needled tail typical of the needletails. Compared to other needletails, it is extremely dark and is the only one without a pale throat patch.

Few detailed descriptions of the life history of the Purple Needletail are known. It is a gregarious species, probably never leaving a group of at least 20 birds. The large size of these swifts is said to be apparent ever from a distance. It is believed to take any kind of large, flying insect; sometimes even hanging around bee-farms to pick off members of a hive. The breeding habits are unknown, although it is thought that this is a cave-nesting bird. The voice is also unknown.

The commonality of this species is not really known. They are thought to be scarce to uncommon through most of their range, but are not endangered and can be numerous in some parts of the Philippines.

References

* Chantler and Driessens, "Swifts" ISBN 1-873403-83-6


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • purple needletail — sulavesinis hirundapas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Hirundapus celebensis angl. purple needletail vok. Purpursegler, m pranc. martinet des Célèbes, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – hirundapai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • List of Asian birds — This list of Asian birds is a listing of all the bird species known from the continent of Asia.NotesThe taxonomy of this list adheres to James Clements Birds of the World: A Checklist , and reflects all changes to that work until July, 2005.… …   Wikipedia

  • Sibley-Monroe checklist 5 — The Sibley Monroe checklist was a landmark document in the study of birds. It drew on extensive DNA DNA hybridisation studies to reassess the relationships between modern birds. ApodiformesApodidae* Cypseloides rutilus Chestnut collared Swift *… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of the Philippines — This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Philippines. The avifauna of the Philippines includes a total of 612 species, of which 194 are endemic, 3 have been introduced by humans, and 52 are rare or accidental. 67 species are globally… …   Wikipedia

  • Swift — For other uses, see Swift (disambiguation). Swifts Common Swift, Apus apus Note wing shape different from swallows Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

  • Largest organisms — The largest organism found on earth can be measured using a variety of methods. It could be defined as the largest by volume, mass, height, or length. Some creatures group together to form a superorganism, though this cannot truly be classed as… …   Wikipedia

  • Hirundapus celebensis — sulavesinis hirundapas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Hirundapus celebensis angl. purple needletail vok. Purpursegler, m pranc. martinet des Célèbes, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – hirundapai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Purpursegler — sulavesinis hirundapas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Hirundapus celebensis angl. purple needletail vok. Purpursegler, m pranc. martinet des Célèbes, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – hirundapai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • martinet des Célèbes — sulavesinis hirundapas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Hirundapus celebensis angl. purple needletail vok. Purpursegler, m pranc. martinet des Célèbes, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – hirundapai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • sulavesinis hirundapas — statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Hirundapus celebensis angl. purple needletail vok. Purpursegler, m pranc. martinet des Célèbes, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – hirundapai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”