Australian Swiftlet

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The Australian Swiftlet is a small, agile aerial specialist (10–12 cm) characterized by a cigar-shaped body and long, narrow, sickle-shaped wings. Its plumage is primarily dark grey-brown above, contrasting with a pale greyish rump, and uniform pale grey underparts. Subtle pale feathers mark the forehead and lores, while the tail is short with a slight fork. Sexes are identical, though inland populations near Chillagoe are notably smaller and paler than coastal birds. Highly social and almost constantly on the wing, this species flies with quick, erratic wingbeats and a distinctive fluttering action. It forages in flocks, typically staying within 30 kilometres of its colony, snatching insects and spiders from the air. Endemic to north-eastern Queensland, its range extends from the Cape York Peninsula south to the Eungella Range. It occupies diverse habitats from sea level to 1,000 metres, including rainforest edges, tropical savannas, coastal gorges, and urban areas. A colonial breeder, it constructs small, cup-like nests of saliva and plant matter on cave walls. The voice consists of high-pitched, chattering flight calls; notably, birds emit distinctive metallic clicking for echolocation when navigating the dark interiors of breeding caves. The species is distinguished from the larger White-throated Needletail and Pacific Swift by its smaller size and lack of striking white patches. Unlike the Welcome Swallow, it lacks a rusty-coloured throat and has a less deeply forked tail. It is differentiated from Tree and Fairy Martins by its uniform grey underparts—rather than bright white—and its significantly longer, swept-back wings.

Description · BirdUp · CC BY-SA 4.0