The moustached treeswift is a species of bird in the family Hemiprocnidae. It is found in the northern Moluccas, New Guinea, Bismarck and the Solomon Islands archipelagos. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
Northern Moluccas and Melanesia
Typical Environment
Occurs in the northern Moluccas, New Guinea (both the Indonesian and Papua New Guinea sectors), and the Bismarck and Solomon Islands archipelagos. It favors forest edges, river corridors, mangroves, and clearings within lowland and foothill evergreen forest. Birds often perch high on dead snags or exposed branches above the canopy. They also use secondary growth and coastal habitats where tall trees provide vantage points.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Treeswifts, unlike true swifts, can perch comfortably on exposed branches thanks to their specialized feet. The moustached treeswift builds a tiny half-saucer nest glued to a bare twig with saliva and typically lays a single egg. Pairs often sit motionless for long periods, sallying out to catch insects before returning to the same perch.
Temperament
alert and perch-oriented
Flight Pattern
rapid sallies with agile turns and short glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, occasionally in small loose groups around rich feeding areas. Monogamous pairs maintain favored perches and nesting sites. The nest is a tiny cup attached to an exposed twig, secured with saliva; a single egg is typical and both parents share duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched twitters and sharp tseep notes, given from perches or during short display flights. Calls carry over the canopy but are not loud or musical.
Plumage
Sleek, glossy upperparts with blue-grey to slate tones and paler grey underparts. A bold white supercilium and moustachial stripe contrast with a darker facial mask. Long, narrow wings and a slightly forked tail give a distinctive silhouette when perched and in flight.
Diet
Feeds almost entirely on aerial insects such as flies, winged ants and termites, beetles, and small moths. It hunts by sallying from exposed perches, catching prey on the wing with a wide gape. Foraging often concentrates over rivers, forest edges, and canopy gaps where flying insects are abundant.
Preferred Environment
Typically hunts above the forest canopy, along forest margins, and over waterways and mangroves. Uses tall snags and open branches as vantage points for repeated sallies.
