Silver-rumped Spinetail

Scientific Name: Rhaphidura leucopygialis
Malay Name: Layang-layang Ekor-Pendek Melayu
Chinese Name: 银腰针尾雨燕

Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to the Greater Sundas comprising Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 11 cm

Identification:
Smaller than the other migratory Needletail species but still look robust with all blackish underparts, dark bluish gloss upperparts, prominent silvery-white lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts, short square-cut tail, very broad paddle-shaped wings and bare shafts (spines) extending from tail-tip. Juvenile has less glossy underparts.

Similar looking species: White-throated Needletail, Silver-backed Needletail, Brown-backed Needletail

Habitat: Broadleaved evergreen forest and clearings.

Behaviour/Ecology: Roosts in large tree hollows in the emergent canopy.

Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured articles:

• Messages from the Cinereous and Streaked Bulbuls (Science)

Past accepted records in our database:

Silver-rumped Needletail from Taman Negara. Photo credits: See Toh Yew Wai

Silver-rumped Spinetail at Taman Negara. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Silver-rumped Needletail from Taman Negara. Photo credits: See Toh Yew Wai

Silver-rumped Needletail from Taman Negara. Photo credits: Francis Yap