Cave swiftlet
| Cave swiftlet | |
|---|---|
_1.jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Apodidae |
| Genus: | Collocalia |
| Species: | C. linchi |
| Binomial name | |
| Collocalia linchi (Horsfield & Moore, 1854) | |
The cave swiftlet (Collocalia linchi) is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia and India. It is a woodland species and nests in caves. The Bornean swiftlet was considered a subspecies, but is now usually considered distinct.
Subspecies
Described subspecies include:[2]
- C. l. dedii Somadikarta, 1986 - Bali and Lombok
- C. l. linchi Horsfield & F. Moore, 1854 - Madura, Bawean, Nusa Penida and Java
- C. l. ripleyi Somadikarta, 1986 - Barisan Mountains, Sumatra
Description
This bird is shiny blackish-brown above with a greenish gloss, including its rump; sometimes looks black and hooded. Chest black; belly to flanks pale grey with fine black speckles at margins. Wing tips are rounded; underwing is black. Tail black, rounded with shallow notch but lacking the white specks found in the very similar glossy swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta). A distinguishing feature between the two species is that the glossy swiftlet has a tuft of feathers on its hind toe but the cave swiftlet has a naked toe. It is 9 to 11.5 cm (3.5 to 4.5 in) in length. The call is a high-pitched "cheer-cheer".[3]
Distribution and habitat
The cave swiftlet is native to Malaysia and Indonesia.[1] It is found in the Sundaic region, in Java, Madura Island, Bawean, Kangean Island, Nusa Penida, Bali and Lombok, parts of Sumatra, and the western slopes of Mount Kinabalu on Sabah, Borneo. Evidence of it occurring in Malaysia rests on a single specimen in the British Museum labelled "Molacca". Its natural habitat is lowland and upland forest and open woodland.[3]
Behaviour
The cave swiftlet is highly gregarious and flies with all the other species of swift that are sympatric with it. It often circles and flies through the branches of trees emerging through the canopy such as fruiting figs. It breeds in the lighter parts of caves, building a nest of stringy vegetation and cementing the materials to the rock with saliva. Two white, somewhat elongated eggs are laid.[3]
Status
The cave swiftlet has a very wide range and is common in Java and the nearby islands. It has no particular threats and the IUCN has listed it as being of "Least Concern". Although the overall population may be declining slightly, this is not believed to be at such a rate as would justify listing it in a more threatened category.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Collocalia linchi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (1999). Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 5: Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions.
- 1 2 3 Chantler, Phil (2010). Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World. A & C Black. ISBN 9781408135402.