ML67342911

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

© Craig Brelsford (craigbrelsford.com, shanghaibirding.com). Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris. 26 Aug. 2017. Magic Parking Lot (30.884898, 121.968229), Cape Nanhui, Shanghai, China. In photos, note sickle-shaped wings, shallowly forked tail, and generally greyish-brown color (paler underneath). Pale rump patch not visible in these photos. The Himalayan Swiftlet we see in Shanghai are often around Barn Swallow. Often the first indicator of swiftlet I see is the sickle-shaped wings. Paying more attention, I discover that the swift soars more than the swallows. The swallows beat their wings more and seem to be scrambling to stay aloft, while the swiftlet slices through the air. Swallows are passeriforms, songbirds; swifts are apodiforms, non-passerines more closely related to caprimulgiforms (nightjars). Swallows and swifts independently became aerialists; their means of staying aloft are analogous to each other and not the result of evolution from a common aerialist ancestor.

Observation details

Himalayan Swiftlet has sickle-shaped wings, shallowly forked tail, and generally greyish-brown color (paler underneath). The Himalayan Swiftlet we see in Shanghai are often around Barn Swallow. Often the first indicator of swiftlet I see is the sickle-shaped wings. Paying more attention, I discover that the swift soars more than the swallows. The swallows beat their wings more and seem to be scrambling to stay aloft, while the swiftlet slices through the air. Swallows are passeriforms, songbirds; swifts are apodiforms, non-passerines more closely related to caprimulgiforms (nightjars). Swallows and swifts independently became aerialists; their means of staying aloft are analogous to each other and not the result of evolution from a common aerialist ancestor.

Technical information

Dimensions

1200 pixels x 1600 pixels

Original file size

351.79 KB