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Small plain grayish swiftlet with a pale rump and a slightly darker cap.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilySwifts
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatOpen sky above wetlands, paddocks, towns, rivers, and edges with active aerial insect movement.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from June to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Peter Boesman
Range map
Range map
327visible hotspots
35293visible records
2states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Possible confusion with Tree Martin, which is much paler below with a paler rump, plumper body, and shorter wings. Abundant in tropical north Queensland.
Behavior
Almost always seen in flight; note slender wings, very quick stiff wing beats.
Gallery