Silver-rumped Needletail
Silver-rumped NeedletailSilver-rumped NeedletailSilver-rumped NeedletailSilver-rumped Needletail

Silver-rumped Needletail

Rhaphidura leucopygialis

Silhouette: Aviceda (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
67 Verified sightings at Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary From 2019 to 2026
2,123 Verified sightings across all 12 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the Silver-rumped Needletail

The silver-rumped spinetail or silver-rumped needletail (Rhaphidura leucopygialis, sometimes spelled Raphidura leucopygialis) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Research on the silver- Rumped spine tail has utilized facultative heterothermy, or even torpor, as a physiological mechanism to reduce its metabolic rate and conserve energy in its tropical environment. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

Plume-toed Swiftlet

Plume-toed Swiftlet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Collocalia affinis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
White-nest Swiftlet
LC

White-nest Swiftlet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Aerodramus fuciphagus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Black-nest Swiftlet
LC

Black-nest Swiftlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aerodramus maximus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Mossy-nest Swiftlet
LC

Mossy-nest Swiftlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aerodramus salangana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brown-backed Needletail
LC

Brown-backed Needletail

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hirundapus giganteus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Asian Palm-Swift
LC

Asian Palm-Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Cypsiurus balasiensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
House Swift
LC

House Swift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Apus nipalensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pacific Swift
LC

Pacific Swift

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Apus pacificus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
White-throated Needletail
LC

White-throated Needletail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundapus caudacutus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Gray-rumped Treeswift
LC

Gray-rumped Treeswift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hemiprocne longipennis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Whiskered Treeswift
LC

Whiskered Treeswift

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Hemiprocne comata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Sepilok 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
2 Khao Luang National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~30%
3 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
4 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~20%
5 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
6 Gunung Leuser National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
7 Tanjung Puting National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
8 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
9 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
10 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
11 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
12 Bako National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Silver-rumped Needletail in Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Silver-rumped Needletail sighting in Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 67 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Silver-rumped Needletail in Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary?

March has the highest sighting rate for Silver-rumped Needletail in Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.

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