Mearnsia picina
The Philippine Spinetail (Mearnsia picina) is a captivating, endemic swift of the Philippine archipelago, renowned for its mastery of aerial life. Measuring approximately 14 cm (5.5 inches) in length, it exhibits a striking glossy black plumage across most of its body, punctuated by a prominent, deep chestnut-red rump and uppertail coverts that contrast vividly during flight. Its most distinctive feature, typical of spinetails, is its short, stiff tail with projecting feather shafts (spines),...
This swift primarily inhabits humid tropical lowland evergreen forests, often found along forest edges, clearings, and over adjacent cultivated areas. It typically occurs at low to mid-elevations, generally below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level.
Its diet consists exclusively of flying insects, including beetles, flies, termites, and ants. It obtains all its food by expertly hawking prey on the wing in swift, continuous flight.
The Philippine Spinetail leads an almost entirely aerial existence, being highly diurnal and spending its days constantly on the wing. It forages with remarkable agility, hawking flying insects directly from the air with rapid, acrobatic flight maneuvers. When not in flight, it roosts by clinging...
The Philippine Spinetail is strictly endemic to the southern Philippines, with its primary stronghold on the large island of Mindanao. Its range also encompasses several smaller, adjacent islands, including Basilan, Dinagat, and Siquijor, indicating a somewhat fragmented distribution across the r...
Near Threatened
- The Philippine Spinetail is one of only two species in the genus *Mearnsia*, making it a unique lineage among swifts. - Its common name, 'spinetail,' refers to the stiff, projecting shafts of its tail feathers, which it uses like a prop to cling vertically to surfaces. - Unlike many birds, swif...