needletails

Needletails are a group of swift-like birds in the genus Hirundapus, within the family Apodidae. They are among the larger swifts and are named for their long, slender, needle-like tail feathers. The two widely recognized species are the White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) and the Silver-backed Needletail (Hirundapus cochinchinensis).

Description and flight characteristics include dark upperparts, with a pale throat in the White-throated form and a metallic sheen on the back in the Silver-backed form. They have very long wings and are known for their exceptionally fast, agile flight, often seen sweeping through open skies while catching insects on the wing.

Habitat and range: Needletails breed in parts of temperate and subtropical Asia, including elevated regions and forested areas, and many populations migrate to warmer regions during the non-breeding season. They favor open habitats such as hillsides, coastlines, and other airy landscapes where they can glide and hawk insects. They nest in cavities, including rock crevices, hollow trees, and, in some places, man-made structures.

Behavior and diet: Like other swifts, needletails are highly aerial insectivores. They spend most of their lives in flight, feeding on flying insects and drinking on the wing. Nesting is typically solitary or in small groups in suitable cavities, with both parents often involved in incubation and care of the young.

Conservation: The status of needletail species varies by population and region. Habitat loss and disturbance at nesting sites can impact local numbers, but there is no single global extinction risk assigned to the group as a whole. Protection of nesting habitats and suitable cavities supports their continued presence in many areas.

See also: Swifts; Hirundapus; White-throated needletail; Silver-backed needletail.