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SPECIES PROFILE
Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Cypsiurus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Urban areas palm groves open country
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Apodiformes
FAMILY
Apodidae
GENUS
Cypsiurus
📋 Description
SIZE
11-13 cm long 10-15 g
COLORATION
Slender grey-brown with long forked tail
ADAPTATIONS
Agile flight for catching insects nests on palm leaves
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Urban areas palm groves open country
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-3 eggs in palm leaf nests incubated 18-20 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects caught in flight
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Urban development palm loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Aerial Acrobats: Asian Palm Swifts glide with 12-gram bodies catching 4 grams of insects daily over Mumbai's skies. Their forked tails aid agility.
2
Palm Nesters: These swifts cover 2000 sq km in Tamil Nadu's groves nesting on palm fronds. Urban sprawl threatens their roosts.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai Maharashtra
Guindy National Park in Chennai Tamil Nadu
Jamnagar in Gujarat
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Urban areas ensure visibility for spotting swifts
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch Asian palm swifts swooping near palm trees
