Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Subsectio: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Euornithes
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Ornithurae
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Ordo: Apodiformes
Familia: Apodidae
Subfamilia: Apodinae
Tribus: Collocaliini
Genus: Aerodramus
Species: Aerodramus terraereginae
Subspecies: A. t. chillagoensis – A. t. terraereginae
Name
Aerodramus terraereginae (E.P. Ramsay, 1875)
Synonyms
Cypselus terrae-reginae (protonym)
References
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1874 (4): 601.
IUCN: Aerodramus terraereginae (Least Concern)
Vernacular names
čeština: Salangana australská
English: Australian Swiftlet
français: Salangane d'Australie
magyar: Ausztrál szalangána
Nederlands: Australische salangaan
polski: Salangana australijska
svenska: Australisk salangan
The Australian swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) is a small bird belonging to the genus Aerodramus in the swift family, Apodidae. It is endemic to Queensland in north-eastern Australia. It was formerly included in the white-rumped swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygius) but is now commonly treated as a separate species. It has two subspecies which are occasionally regarded as two separate species: A. t. terraereginae and A. t. chillagoensis (Chillagoe swiftlet).
Description
It is 11-12 centimetres long with a wing length of 107–118.2 millimetres and a weight of 10.5-12.5 grams. The upperparts are dark grey-brown while the underparts are a uniform greyish. There are pale feathers on the forehead and lores. The rump is normally pale greyish but can occasionally be darker. The tail is slightly forked. The form chillagoensis is smaller and paler with a weight of around 9.39 grams.
It has a high-pitched flight call. In its breeding caves, it utters a metallic clicking call, used for echolocation.
Distribution
A. t. terraereginae occurs in tropical north-east Queensland from the Claudie River on the Cape York Peninsula south as far as the Eungella Range near Mackay. It is mainly found near the coast including a number of offshore islands. It occurs up to 1000 metres above sea-level but is commonest below 500 metres. A. t. chillagoensis is found further inland in the area around Chillagoe, west of the Great Dividing Range.
Ecology
Breeding occurs from July to March. The species breeds in colonies which can contain hundreds of individuals. These are located in caves or sometimes amongst boulders. The nest is attached to the walls or ceiling of the cave, 2–20 metres above the ground. It is translucent and basket-shaped and made from saliva mixed with grasses, casuarina needles, twigs and feathers. Two clutches are laid during the breeding season, each consisting of a single white egg. The egg is incubated by both parents for about 26.5 days. Incubation of the second egg is aided by warmth from the first chick. The young bird remains in the nest for about 46–51 days after hatching.
The Australian swiftlet feeds in flight, preying on insects and drifting spiders. It forages in flocks over rainforest edges, savanna, pastures, beaches and gorges. It generally feeds within 30 kilometres of the breeding colony, leaving the nest for periods of about 30 minutes to hunt.
References
BirdLife International (2016). "Aerodramus terraereginae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22686534A93116529. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686534A93116529.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Chantler, Phil & Driessens, Gerald (2000) Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World, 2nd ed., Pica Press, East Sussex.
Pizzey, Graham & Knight, Frank (1997) The Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, HarperCollins, London, UK.
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