Rhaphidura

Rhaphidura is a small bird genus in the family of sailors ( Apodidae ), which is attributed to two species: the native to Southeast Asia and the Silberbürzelsegler occurring in equatorial Africa swamp sailors. Both species are quite small representatives of the tribe Chaeturini.

Features

The body length of both species is approximately 11 centimeters. Both members of the genus have predominantly very shiny, dark plumage and have a white area from the rump up to the upper tail-coverts. In contrast to Silberbürzelsegler also the abdomen and under tail-coverts are white at the swamp sailors.

In both species, the upper tail-coverts cover the cock completely. The typical representatives of the tribe Chaeturini "tail spikes " protruding well beyond the end of the tail, but are very thin.

System

The species of this genus were originally attributed to the genus Chaetura, in the course of 1970 by RK Brooke standing division of the genus Chaetura the Rhaphidura species were an independent genus. Despite the occasionally held view that these species with those of the genus Zoonavena are closely related, has the status of these genera since changed nothing.

The following types are attributed to the genus:

• Silberbürzelsegler ( Rhaphidura leucophygialis )
• Swamp sailors ( Rhaphidura sabini )