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Asian palm swift

bird
Also known as: Cypsiurus parvus, palm swift

Quick Summary

The Asian palm swift (Cypsiurus parvus) is a species of swift belonging to the family Apodidae. These agile, fast-flying birds are found in Africa and Asia. Swifts are characterized by their long wings, compact bodies, and dull or glossy gray, brown, or black plumage. They possess tiny, weak feet that are primarily used for clinging to vertical surfaces, as they can have difficulty taking flight from flat ground. Swifts are known for their aerial feeding, often capturing insects with their mouths open while in flight. They also drink, bathe, and sometimes mate on the wing. A unique nesting behavior of some swifts, including the Asian palm swift, involves using their saliva to glue eggs to a small nest attached to palm fronds, which can hang vertically or even upside down.12

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