Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris (Horsfield, 1840)

Himalayan Swiftlet, Aerodramus brevirostris, breeds across north-east India to south China and the Malay Peninsula, and is a common colonial breeder in the Himalayas and south-east Asia. Some populations move seasonally. It is a small swiftlet with long, swept-back wings, a forked tail and a slender body. The bird has short legs, a wide mouth and bristles around the bill for taking insects on the wing, and it can cling to vertical surfaces rather than perch. It nests in caves on rock walls, with a tiny cup made by the male from saliva and moss, and both adults care for the young.

Order

Apodiformes

Family

Apodidae — Swifts

Breeding range

Oriental Region: ne India to sc China and Malay Pen.