Photo: TonyCastro / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan Swiftlet
Aerodramus brevirostris
Himalayan Swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris) — Swifts of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Himalayan Swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 13.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Aerodramus
- Species brevirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Himalayan Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Himalayan Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Himalayan Swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris) belongs to the Apodidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India to sc China and Malay Pen.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.4 g, with a wing length of about 12.3 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Himalayan Swiftlet?
The Himalayan Swiftlet is a very small bird that weighs around 13.4 g.
Where does the Himalayan Swiftlet live?
The Himalayan Swiftlet is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India to sc China and Malay Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Himalayan Swiftlet belong to?
The Himalayan Swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Himalayan Swiftlet eat?
The Himalayan Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Himalayan Swiftlet migrate?
The Himalayan Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Himalayan Swiftlet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Himalayan Swiftlet make?
1 real field recording of the Himalayan Swiftlet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Himalayan Swiftlet's range?
The Himalayan Swiftlet has a mapped global range of about 2.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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