Three-toed Swiftlet Aerodramus papuensis Scientific name definitions

14 cm. Large swiftlet with shallowly forked tail; warm brown, slightly glossy upperparts lacking rump contrast; underparts dark with contrastingly silver-grey throat; densely feathered tarsi; white rami of nape feathers contrast with dark tips. Unique amongst Apodidae in lacking hallux, i.e. has only 3 toes. No information available as to whether or not species is capable of echolocation.

New Guinea: specimens collected from Idenburg R, Snow Mts and Jayapura. Probable sight records from more extensive area of N New Guinea and from around Port Moresby, in SE; first specimen for Papua New Guinea taken from N slopes of Hindenburg Range, in Western Province, Apr 1993.

Occurs over range of habitats from sea-level to 2400 m. One captured at this upper altitudinal limit was taken at a cave in an area of mossy montane and Dacrycarpus forest. May favour gullies in parts of range.

Resident.

Typically feeds at high elevations, though low-level foraging recorded over wetlands. Flocks of 20–30 typical; often with A. vanikorensis and Mearnsia novae­guineae. In Papua New Guinea one was removed at 06:15 from a net checked at 21:00 previous evening, suggesting crepuscular or even limited nocturnal activity.

Not known.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Data Deficient. Known from a handful of specimens and a few unconfirmed sight records. Thought to be locally common, though lack of definite sightings and scarcity of specimens suggest that this species may actually be rare. Previously considered to be common in Idenburg R area, where flocks of 20–30 individuals were recorded in early 1940s.