Dark-rumped Swift

The gloss back Swift (Apus acuticauda ) is a species of bird in the order of the Swifts.

Description

The completely dark bird reaches a length 17 to 18 inches. He is slim and has a scaling at the bottom on. The tail is deeply forked.

Distribution and population

The gloss back sailor is known from a few breeding colonies in the foothills of the Himalayas in Bhutan and in the mountain ranges of the states of Meghalaya and Mizoram in northeast India. About his wanderings is not known. Outside the breeding season it has been observed in India and the north-western Thailand. Because of the known breeding colonies is estimated the population between 200 and 1000 copies. Therefore, the IUCN classifies it as endangered.

Way of life

The gloss back sailors breeds in colonies in the columns of rock walls or in 200-1350 m deep gorges in the vicinity of forests. The breeding season is from March to May During incubation to keep the birds in the immediate vicinity of breeding colonies. Then they pull out and return again the following year. Outside the breeding season it is observed at altitudes up to 1,500 m.