The mountain swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the island of New Guinea and the nearby islands of Karkar, Yapen and Goodenough. It was once placed in the genus Collocalia but has been moved, with many others, to Aerodramus. The species is divided into three subspecies, 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 and A. h. baru being restricted to Yapen Island. It occurs in alpine areas from 500 m to the treeline. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests and other mountainous habitats in New Guinea. It also occurs in lower numbers in the lowlands near hills.
Region
New Guinea and nearby islands (Melanesia)
Typical Environment
Occurs across montane New Guinea from roughly 500 m to the treeline, including the Central Range and associated highlands. Populations are also found on nearby islands such as Karkar, Goodenough, and Yapen (the latter hosting subspecies A. h. baru). It favors steep terrain with tropical moist montane forest, cliffs, and gorges, often near cave systems for nesting. Birds sometimes range into adjacent foothills and lowlands near mountainous edges, especially while foraging.
Altitude Range
500–3500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This swiftlet is restricted to New Guinea and nearby islands such as Karkar, Yapen, and Goodenough, with three recognized subspecies adapted to different elevations. Like many Aerodramus swiftlets, it nests colonially in caves and uses simple echolocation clicks to navigate in darkness. It forages on the wing over ridges and forested slopes and may descend to adjacent lowlands near hills when conditions are suitable.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
fast aerialist with rapid, shallow wingbeats and agile, scything turns
Social Behavior
Forms loose to dense colonies in caves and rock crevices, where it adheres small nests to walls. Pairs are monogamous within a season, and breeding is synchronized within colonies. Roosting is communal, especially outside the breeding period.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin twittering and chittering calls given in flight. Inside caves, it produces audible clicking notes used for simple echolocation to navigate in darkness.
Plumage
Sooty-brown to dark brown overall with slightly paler throat and underparts; feathers can show fine pale fringes when fresh. Tail is short and square to slightly notched, wings long and scythe-shaped.
Diet
An aerial insectivore that captures small flying insects such as flies, beetles, and flying ants on the wing. It often feeds along ridgelines, over forest canopies, and above clearings where updrafts concentrate insect swarms. During termite or ant emergences it may gather in larger numbers to exploit the abundance.
Preferred Environment
Feeds over montane forest edges, valleys, and windward slopes where insects are lifted by thermals. Also forages above rivers and near cave entrances, occasionally descending to foothills and nearby lowlands.
