Pygmy swiftlet
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| Pygmy swiftlet | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Apodidae |
| Genus: | Collocalia |
| Species: | C. troglodytes |
| Binomial name | |
| Collocalia troglodytes Gray, GR, 1845 | |
The pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. At under 9 cm (3.5 in), it is the world's smallest swift. It weighs only 5 grams.
Description and taxonomy
[edit]Ebird describes this species " A tiny, common swiftlet found over lowland forest. Gray below with a paler belly, a darker throat, and dark patches on the underside of the base of the forewing. Black above with a distinctive white band on the rump. Tail square, and dark under the base. Nests in caves, where it uses echolocation. Similar to Gray-rumped Swiftlet, but Pygmy is slightly smaller, with a cleaner white rump band. Gives grating calls in flight."
This species is monotypic.
Ecology and behavior
[edit]It feeds small insects in flight. Forms small groups when foraging.
Swiftlets that nest in complete darkness in caves can use echolocation, the ability to position an object by reflected sound, used by other animals such as dolphins and bats. Breeding season varies per island but usually within the window from May to September[2]
Habitat and conservation
[edit]This is a lowland species thats mostly found near forest and bodies of water.
International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as a least-concern species as it has a large range and is common. However, it has a declining population due to deforestation from land conversion, Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Collocalia troglodytes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22686504A130107820. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22686504A130107820.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Chantler, Philip; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Pygmy Swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.pygswi2.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ IUCN (2018-08-07). Collocalia troglodytes: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22686504A130107820 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2018-2.rlts.t22686504a130107820.en.
- Price, J. J., Johnson, K. P., & Clayton, D. H. (2004). The Evolution of echolocation in Swiftlets. Journal of Avian Biology 35(2), 135–143. doi: 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03182.x
- Thomassen, H. A., Den Tex, R., De Bakker, M., & Povel, G. (2005). Phylogenetic relationship among Swifts and Swiflets . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37(1), 264–277. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.010
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