The white-throated needletail ( Hirundapus caudacutus ), also known as needle-tailed swift or spine-tailed swift, is a large swift in the genus Hirundapus. It is reputed to reach speeds of up to 170 km/h (105 mph) in horizontal flight, but this is unverified because the methods used to measure its speed have not been published. [2] So for many years, it was commonly held by scientists that the fastest-flying bird in level flight was the White-throated Needletail ( formerly known as the Spine-tailed Swift), which could supposedly reach speeds of up to 47m/s (105 mph). That number, however, had never been scientifically proven.
The Common Swift Is No Longer the FastestFlying Animal Audubon
spine-tailed swift bird Also known as: Chaeturinae Learn about this topic in these articles: description In swift.soft-tailed swifts, and Chaeturinae, or spine-tailed swifts. Almost worldwide in distribution, swifts are absent only from polar regions, southern Chile and Argentina, New Zealand, and most of Australia. tail Papuan Needletail (Mearnsia novaeguineae), also known as the Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, New Guinea Spine-tailed Swift or Papua Spinetail- Range: Recorded from Boigu Island, Queensland, Australian territory in north-western Torres Strait. 334 What does it look like? Description: This large swift has long curved wings and white markings. The plumage of the White-throated Needletail is predominantly grey-brown, glossed with green and the wings are long and pointed. The tail is short and square, with the protruding feather shafts giving a spiky appearance. Common name: peregrine falcon Scientific name: Falco peregrinus Family: Falconidae Peregrine falcons are not only the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds of up to 180km per hour (some estimates even have them flying at much greater speeds) but they are also one of the most agile aerial hunters.
Papuan eBird
Atlas of Living Australia species page for the Hirundapus caudacutus The Papuan spine-tailed swift ( Mearnsia novaeguineae ), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papua spinetail, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. The white-throated needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), also known as needle-tailed swift or spine-tailed swift, is a large swift in the genus Hirundapus. White-throated needletails are large swifts with a robust, barrel-like body. They measure about 20 cm and weigh between 110 and 120 grams. The White-throated needletail ( Hirundapus caudacutus) is a large swift. Needle-tailed swifts get their name from the spined end of their tail, which is not forked as it is in the typical swifts of the genus Apus. The White-throated needletail was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801.
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Similar species: All potential confusion species are smaller than the white-throated needletail. Welcome swallow has a deeply forked tail, glossy blue-black upper parts, red face and pale greyish underparts. Fork-tailed swift is all dark except for a pale throat and a white band across the rump and has a deeply forked tail. In soft-tailed forms, the hind toe is rotated forward as an aid in gripping vertical surfaces; in spine-tailed swifts, support is gained from the short needle-tipped tail feathers, and the feet are less modified. Britannica Quiz In feeding, swifts course tirelessly back and forth, capturing insects with their large mouths open.
Swift Species Photo Gallery. The White-throated Needletails ( Hirundapus caudacutus ), also known as Needle-tailed Swift or Spine-tailed Swift, is a large swift. It is one of the fastest-flying birds in flapping flight, being capable of speeds up to 170 km/h (105 mph). These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to. Studies have clocked an Indian bird, the spine-tailed swift, at over 100 miles (160 km) per hour. Visit The Travel Almanac to see more of the world's fastest birds while traveling at level flight.
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Or Spine-tailed Swift is unverifed but reputed to reach speeds of up to 170 km/h in horizontal flight. Other Australian Birds of Prey. SPOTTED HARRIER. SWAMP HARRIER. AUSTRALIAN HOBBY. BLACK-BREASTED BUZZARD . Stacpoole Music and Internet Mount Barker WA The Philippine spinetail ( Mearnsia picina ), also known as the Philippine needletail or Philippine spine-tailed swift, is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the islands of Mindanao and Visayas. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss .