Scientific Name: Hemiprocne longipennis
Malay Name: Layang-layang Berjambul Pinggul Pudar
Chinese Name: 灰腰凤头雨燕
Range: Found from Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore to Indonesia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: harterti, perlonga, longipennis, wallacii.
Local Subspecies: harterti
Size: 18-21.5 cm
Identification: A rather big swift-like bird with dark glossy greenish crown, nape and mantle, blackish lores, greyish throat, whitish underparts. Tail-tip falls short of primary wing tips when perched. In flight, greyish back and rump contrast with dark mantle and has contrasting blackish underwing coverts. Male has chestnut ear-coverts while female has blackish ear-coverts.
Similar looking species: Whiskered Treeswift, Asian Palm Swift, Pacific Swift
Habitat: Open habitat, parkland and forested area.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feed on small insects taken in flight. Usually perch high up on tree.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2022)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Kent Ridge Park and Bishan Park.
- Bird List Revision for May 2019 (Revisions)
- 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 (Gray-rumped Treeswift)
References:
BirdLife International. (2022). Hemiprocne longipennis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22686894A169942795.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.). Grey-rumped Treeswift. Retrieved on June 13, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/grey-rumped-treeswift.