Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-throated Needletail
Hirundapus caudacutus
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) — Swifts of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 95.5 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 caudacutus
Where it lives
Himalayas from Pakistan to southern China and central Siberia to northeastern Russia and Japan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 95.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-throated Needletail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-throated Needletail is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) is a member of the Apodidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Himalayas from Pakistan to s China and c Siberia to ne Russia and Japan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 95.5 g, with a wing length of about 20.6 cm and a tail of around 5 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 6.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-throated Needletail?
The White-throated Needletail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 95.5 g.
Where does the White-throated Needletail live?
The White-throated Needletail is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Himalayas from Pakistan to s China and c Siberia to ne Russia and Japan, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-throated Needletail belong to?
The White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-throated Needletail eat?
The White-throated Needletail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-throated Needletail migrate?
The White-throated Needletail is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-throated 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.
What sound does the White-throated Needletail make?
1 real field recording of the White-throated Needletail — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-throated Needletail's range?
The White-throated Needletail has a mapped global range of about 6.1 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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