Scientific Name: Cypsiurus balasiensis
Malay Name: Layang-layang Palma Asia
Chinese Name: 棕雨燕
Range: Found throughout Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: balasiensis, infumatus, bartelsorum, pallidior.
Local Subspecies: infumatus
Size: 11-12 cm
Identification: Resembles common swiftlet from far but has rather uniform greyish brown plumage, pale throat, long slender, sickle-shaped wings and distinctive long, deeply forked tail which appears long, narrow and pointed when closed. Looks very similar but is much smaller, more slender-looking and lack the diagnostic white rump-band of the Pacific Swift.
Similar looking species: Grey-rumped Treeswift, Pacific Swift, Common Swift
Habitat: Open habitat and urban areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feed on small insects egs. flying ants, termites and beetles taken in flight.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Kent Ridge, Lorong Halus, Pulau Ubin, Thomson Road.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Asian Palm Swift)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Cypsiurus balasiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686769A93126438.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Asian Palm Swift. Retrieved on December 8, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-palm-swift.