Asian Palm Swift Bird Details
Cypsiurus balasiensis
Asian Palm Swift,Indian Palm Swift;
Taad Chidiya
John Edward Gray, 1829
Apodiformes
Apodidae
Cypsiurus
India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and southern China.
Appearance :
Small bird with slender body, long pointed wings, and forked tail. Plumage is generally greyish-brown, with a slightly paler throat. Adapted to rapid flight, with stiff, crescent-shaped wings.
Behaviour :
Highly social; found in groups and often seen flying in flocks. Known for fast, agile flight patterns and aerial acrobatics. Builds nests using its sticky saliva on palm trees.
Habitat :
Open habitats with palm trees, such as farmlands, savannas, urban areas, and edges of forests. Typically found near areas with abundant palms for nesting.
Diet :
Insectivorous; feeds primarily on flying insects, which it catches in flight. Hunts during the day using its fast aerial skills.
Conservation Status :
Least Concern
Distribution :
Found widely across South and Southeast Asia.
Population Size :
Population size is stable.
Life Span :
Typically 6 to 10 years in the wild.
Body And Tarsus:
- Body: Small, slender, and streamlined body, well-suited for fast, agile flight.
- Tarsus Length: Short tarsus, approximately 5-7 mm.
Head And Bill :
- Head: Small and rounded with a smooth transition to the body, no distinct neck separation.
- Eyes: Large, black, and well-adapted for aerial hunting to spot flying insects.
- Bill: Small, short, slightly curved, and adapted for catching insects mid-air.
- Bill Length: Approximately 5–6 mm in length.
Length :
Total length around 13–15 cm.
Neck :
Extremely short, barely visible due to its sleek body structure.
Size :
Considered small for a bird
Tail Details :
- Tail: Long, deeply forked tail that helps with maneuverability in flight.
- Tail Length: Tail length ranges from 4-5 cm, with the deeply forked tail tips adding more.
- Feathers: Narrow and stiff feathers, especially on the wings and tail, optimized for high-speed flight. The plumage is generally greyish-brown.
Weight :
Typically weighs around 8–10 grams.
Wing :
Long, narrow, and crescent-shaped wings that are built for rapid, agile, and sustained flight.
Wing Span :
The wingspan is approximately 30–35 cm.
Facial Feature :
Small, rounded head with a short, black bill and relatively large, dark eyes. The face is not distinctly marked.
Nest Details :
- Nest: The Asian Palm Swift builds small, cup-shaped nests on the underside of palm fronds. The nest is attached to the leaf using the bird's sticky saliva, which serves as an adhesive.
- Nest Made Up Of: The nest is made of plant fibers, feathers, and other soft materials, all glued together with the bird’s saliva. This allows the nest to cling to the smooth surfaces of palm leaves.
Breeding Season :
Typically during the warmer months from March to July.
Nesting Season :
Nesting usually coincides with the breeding season (March to July).
Egg Color :
The eggs are white or pale in color, often without any markings.
Egg Length :
Approximately 17–19 mm.
Egg Width and Weight :
- Egg Width: Around 11–13 mm.
- Egg Weight: Each egg weighs about 1.5–2 grams.
Clutch Size :
Usually, 2–3 eggs per clutch.
No. of Broods :
Typically 1–2 broods per breeding season.
Incubation Period :
The incubation period lasts around 17–20 days.
Nestling Period :
The young swifts remain in the nest for around 20–25 days before fledging.
Vocalization :
The vocalizations are weak, high-pitched "tsee-tsee" or "chittering" sounds, often heard when they are flying in flocks.
Sex Demorphism :
There is no significant sexual dimorphism in Asian Palm Swifts;
Migration Details :
Asian Palm Swifts are largely resident birds and do not undertake long-distance migrations. However, they may move locally in response to seasonal changes in food availability.
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