Whitehead's swiftlet

Whitehead's swiftlet
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Strisores
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Aerodramus
Species:	A. whiteheadi
Binomial name
Aerodramus whiteheadi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1895)
Synonyms
Collocalia whiteheadi

Whitehead's swiftlet (Aerodramus whiteheadi) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is named after the British explorer John Whitehead (1860–1899). Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its status is insufficiently known.

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "Uncommon dark swiftlet. Endemic to a smattering of the Philippines islands, from Luzon to Mindanao to Palawan. Habitat can be helpful in identifying this confusing species; generally favors ridges and slopes in montane and submontane areas above 700-800 meters. Readily confused with significantly larger Ameline Swiftlet, but present species has a more squared-off-looking tail (fork is shallow and often unnoticeable), tends to fly lower and more erratically, and more often forms flocks. Combination of dark rump, unglossed dark back, and medium size separates this species from Gray-rumped Swiftlet, Pygmy Swiftlet, and Ridgetop Swiftlet. Frequently calls while in flight, giving a squeaky chattering twitter."

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:

• A. w whiteheadi – Found on Luzon, only records on Mt. Data
• A. w. origenis – Found on Mindanao

Ecology and behavior

Diet is unknown but it is pressumed to have the typical diet of insects caught in flight. Nothing is known about its breeding behaviour except nests were collected on Mt. Apo from a hollow tree in July.

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats are tropical montane forest beginning at 1,000 meters above sea level.

It is listed as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with the population believed to be decreasing. Its difficulty to identify reliably, lack of records and inaccesibility of its montane habitat make it difficult to determine this species status. However, it's habitat is threatened by deforestation from illegal logging, land conversion and mining.