Crested Treeswift
NameCrested Treeswift
Common NameCrested Treeswift
Scientific NameHemiprocne coronata
FamilyHemiprocnidae
Wingspan (cm)32.5
Length (cm)23
Weight (g)25
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are metallic blue-grey, contrasting with a white belly. Males have prominent rufous (orange-brown) ear coverts, while females have greyish cheeks. The crown is dark, sometimes showing a subtle crest, and the tail is deeply forked with long streamers.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include high-pitched, thin, squeaky calls, often rendered as 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'swee-swee-swee', typically given in flight or from a perch.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Identifying Featuresdeeply forked tail, rufous ear coverts (males), metallic blue-grey upperparts, white belly, perches on bare branches
Description
The Crested Treeswift is a medium-sized aerial insectivore characterized by its sleek, metallic blue-grey plumage and a deeply forked tail. Unlike true swifts, it frequently perches on exposed branches, often in open woodland or forest edges. Males display distinctive rufous ear coverts.
