Waterfall Swift
Hydrochous gigas
Silhouette: Aviceda (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyApodidae (Swifts)
- GenusHydrochous
- SpeciesHydrochous gigas (Waterfall Swift)
About the Waterfall Swift
The giant swiftlet (Hydrochous gigas), also known as the waterfall swift, is a species of bird in the swift family, Apodidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Hydrochous. It is found in Malaysia, Sumatra and Java, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It may be threatened by habitat loss.
The giant swiftlet has the largest average wingspan of all the swiftlets, at 150 millimeters. It is a fairly large swift that can grow to 16 cm in length. The female weighs 35 to 39 grams, and the male around 37 grams. Unlike other swiftlets, it builds its nest on a flat horizontal surface instead of molding it against a vertical surface with saliva.
It is not totally nocturnal, lacking the echolocation seen in some other swiftlets, but is still able to orientate visually in dim light. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Waterfall Swift in Kinabalu Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kinabalu Park
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Aerodramus fuciphagus
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Cypsiurus balasiensis
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Hirundapus giganteus
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Hemiprocne longipennis
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Hemiprocne comata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunung Leuser National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 2 | Kinabalu Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 3 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Waterfall Swift in Kinabalu Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Waterfall Swift sighting in Kinabalu Park, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Waterfall Swift in Kinabalu Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Waterfall Swift in Kinabalu Park in our monthly data.