Hemiprocne longipennis
The Grey-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis) is a striking, medium-sized aerial insectivore, distinguished by its long, pointed wings and deeply forked tail, often held closed when perched. Measuring approximately 20-23 cm in length with a wingspan of 40-50 cm, it presents an elegant, streamlined silhouette. Its plumage is predominantly smoky grey-brown, contrasting sharply with a pale grey rump that is a key identification feature in flight. The head is adorned with a short, pointed cr...
This treeswift primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, open woodlands, forest edges, and cultivated areas, often near water sources, from lowlands up to approximately 1,200 meters.
The Grey-rumped Treeswift is an aerial insectivore, feeding primarily on a variety of flying insects including beetles, flies, bugs, termites, and moths, which it catches on the wing.
Diurnal by nature, Grey-rumped Treeswifts are typically seen perching conspicuously on bare branches, high snags, or telephone wires, from which they launch into acrobatic foraging flights. Their foraging strategy involves "hawking" insects directly from the air, often making swift, sweeping turn...
The Grey-rumped Treeswift boasts a wide resident distribution across Southeast Asia, extending from Myanmar and Thailand south through the Malay Peninsula, including Singapore. Its range continues eastward to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali, and the Lesser Sunda Islands, as well as throughout the Phi...
Least Concern
- The Grey-rumped Treeswift is not a "true" swift; it belongs to a separate family (Hemiprocnidae) that diverged early from the true swifts (Apodidae). - Unlike true swifts, which can only cling to vertical surfaces, treeswifts possess strong feet adapted for perching on branches. - Its nest is e...