Purple Needletail
Hirundapus celebensis
Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) — Swifts of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 180 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 Hirundapus
- Species celebensis
Where it lives
Philippines (except Palawan group and Sulu Arch.), Sulawesi, Banggai and Sula is. (east of Sulawesi)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 180 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Purple Needletail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Purple Needletail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Philippines (except Palawan group and Sulu Arch.), Sulawesi, Banggai and Sula is. (e of Sulawesi).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 180 g, with a wing length of about 21.4 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 286,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Purple Needletail?
The Purple Needletail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 180 g.
Where does the Purple Needletail live?
The Purple Needletail is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Philippines (except Palawan group and Sulu Arch.), Sulawesi, Banggai and Sula is. (e of Sulawesi), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Purple Needletail belong to?
The Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Purple Needletail eat?
The Purple Needletail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Purple Needletail migrate?
The Purple Needletail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Purple Needletail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Purple Needletail's range?
The Purple Needletail has a mapped global range of about 286,000 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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