# Mountain swiftlet
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_swiftlet
> Source revision: 1344536277
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{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Aerodramus hirundinaceus - avocat - 316991124.jpeg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = [{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2024 |title=''Aerodramus hirundinaceus'' |article-number=e.T22686525A263674570 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22686525A263674570.en}}]
| genus = Aerodramus
| species = hirundinaceus
| authority = ([Stresemann](/source/Erwin_Stresemann), 1914)
| synonyms = ''Collocalia hirundinacea''
}}
The '''mountain swiftlet''' ('''''Aerodramus hirundinaceus''''') is a species of [swift](/source/Swift_(bird)) in the family [Apodidae](/source/Apodidae). It is [endemic](/source/endemism) to the island of [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea) and the nearby islands of [Karkar](/source/Karkar_Island), [Yapen](/source/Yapen) and [Goodenough](/source/Goodenough_Island). It was once placed in the genus ''[Collocalia](/source/Collocalia)'' but has been moved, with many others, to ''Aerodramus''. The species is divided into three subspecies,[[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=178017 ITIS standard report page for ''Aerodramus'']] with the nominate, ''A. h. hirundinacea'' ranging over most of New Guinea, the subspecies ''A. h. excelsus'' occurring over 1600 m in the Snow Mountains and Cartenz peaks of [Irian Jaya](/source/Irian_Jaya) and ''A. h. baru'' being restricted to Yapen Island.[Chantler, P. (1999) "Family Apodidae (Swifts) ''in'' del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1999). ''[Handbook of the Birds of the World](/source/Handbook_of_the_Birds_of_the_World). Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds.'' Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|84-87334-25-3}} P. 428.] It occurs in alpine areas from 500 m to the [treeline](/source/treeline). Its natural [habitat](/source/habitat) is tropical moist [montane forest](/source/montane_forest)s and other mountainous habitats in New Guinea. It also occurs in lower numbers in the lowlands near hills.
The mountain swiftlet is a medium-sized swiftlet, 11–13 cm long. It has dark brown [upperpart](/source/plumage)s and paler grey undersides. The tail is slightly forked. The subspecies vary slightly from the nominate race, ''A. h. baru'' has browner underparts and darker upperparts, while ''A. h. excelsus'' is larger than the nominate race. Like other members of the genus this species is able to [echolocate](/source/Animal_echolocation), a trait it uses to navigate itself in the caves it breeds in.
Like the rest of its genus it breeds in caves, constructing [nests](/source/bird_nest) of vegetation such as ferns, rootlets and grasses, or [lichen](/source/lichen)s, held together with [saliva](/source/saliva).[Tarburton, Michael K. (2003) "The breeding biology of the Mountain Swiftlet, ''Aerodramus hirundinaceus'', in Irian Jaya" ''Emu'' '''103''' (2): 177 - 182 {{doi|10.1071/MU00081}}] They are [colonial](/source/bird_colony), but the caves examined so far do not suggest that they nest densely. The peak of the breeding season is October through December, but there are occupied nests through most of the year. The [clutch size](/source/avian_clutch_size) is a single egg for this species. The nestling period, between 57 and 74 days, is one of the longer chick raising periods of any swifts. This is counteracted by a comparatively high breeding success rate, with 61% of mountain swiftlets successfully raising chicks.