Whiskered Treeswift

About the Whiskered Treeswift

The whiskered treeswift (Hemiprocne comata) is a species of bird in the family Hemiprocnidae. It is the smallest of 4 species in genus Hemiprocne and is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Medium, unique white elongated 'whiskers' above and below eye, shaggy crest, deeply forked tail, sexes similar. Male lores black; two elongated white 'whiskers', one above eye from forehead extending past nape; ear chestnut; rest of head and throat, tail, upper and underwing coverts, and primaries dark metallic blue. Each secondary has a large white spot on inner web; back to uppertail coverts, breast and upper belly bronze olive; lower belly and undertail coverts white. Female lacks chestnut ear. Immature plumage not known. Bill black; eye dark brown; legs purplish brown.

Whiskered treeswifts are usually 14-16cm long with 13cm wings. Due to their small size, their nesting habitats have been observed to be composed of small feathers. These feathers are shaped... Wikipedia →