White-throated needletail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-throated needletail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hirundapus
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| Species: |
caudacutus
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Northern summer Resident Northern winter |
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The white-throated needletail is a very fast bird. It is a type of swift, which are known for their amazing flying skills. People also call it the needle-tailed swift or spine-tailed swift. This bird is famous for being one of the fastest birds in the world. It can fly incredibly quickly!
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About the White-throated Needletail
The white-throated needletail is a large swift. It has a strong, round body. These birds are about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. They usually weigh between 110 and 120 grams (about 4 ounces). Their bodies are mostly grayish-brown. But they have a white throat. They also have a white patch near their tail. This patch goes from the base of their tail to their sides.
Why is it Called "Needle-tailed"?
These swifts get their special name from their tail. Unlike many other swifts, their tail is not split or forked. Instead, the end of their tail has small, stiff spines. These spines look a bit like needles. This unique tail helps them balance and steer when they fly.
Where They Live and What They Eat
White-throated needletails build their nests in safe places. They often choose cracks in cliffs. They also nest inside hollow trees. These birds love to be in the air. They spend most of their lives flying. They do not like to sit on the ground. They eat small, flying insects. Their favorite foods include beetles, flies, bees, and moths. They catch these insects while soaring through the sky.
Amazing Migrations
The white-throated needletail is a migratory bird. This means it travels long distances each year. They breed, or have their babies, in Central Asia and southern Siberia. When winter comes, they fly south. They spend the colder months in places like the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Rare Sightings in Europe
Sometimes, these birds fly off course. They are very rare visitors to Western Europe. They have been seen as far west as Norway, Sweden, and Great Britain. In June 2013, a white-throated needletail was seen in Great Britain. It was the first time in 22 years! Sadly, that bird later flew into a wind turbine and died. Its body was sent to a museum for study. In June 2022, another bird was found near Fair Isle, Scotland. Luckily, this one was rescued and set free.
How We Know About Them
The white-throated needletail was first described by an English bird expert. His name was John Latham. He wrote about it in 1801. He gave it the scientific name Hirundo caudacuta at first. Later, it was placed in its current group, Hirundapus. This name combines parts of the names for swallows (Hirundo) and swifts (Apus). The second part of its scientific name, caudacutus, is Latin. Cauda means "tail" and acutus means "pointed." This perfectly describes their unique tail!
