Treeswifts consists of four main species and are known to be found mainly in the Asian continent. All the four species are members of the genus Hemiprocne. The whiskered treeswift is one of these species whose range is mainly in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, the Philippines and Borneo. It is found mostly in the forest, and most of the time, is perching on a dead tree or at some vantage point from where it makes short flights in pursuit of the insect prey. The one in this photo is using a crossbar of canopy which is 100 ft above the forest bed as its perch. The whiskered treeswift species is the only member of this species that uses this technique when foraging, the remaining other members capturing their preys in flights over the top of the trees or even in the open country.

The second member in the treeswift family is the Grey-rumped Treeswift. Like the whiskered treeswift, it is also found in the Malay Peninsula on Suluwesi and in the Greater Sundas. It was thought at one time to be conspecific with the Crested Treeswift which is to be found on the Southern Asia. But the fact that they have overlapping ranges in the South West Thailand and a further lack of interbreeding evidence suggested otherwise.

The final species in this family is the Moustached Treeswift scientifically called H Mystacia. It is mainly common in the New Guinea and the adjacent islands. It is the largest of all the four species in the family of treeswifts. Like he Gray-rumped treeswift and the Crested treeswift, it forages aerially.

Geographic range

Treeswifts live mainly in the Asian countries of Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and Vietnam. They are also to be found in New Guinea, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Bismarck.

Diet

Treeswifts mainly eat insects like ants, beetles, bees and wasps. Most of them are aerial feeders, meaning they fly after their prey. The birds are also known to eat spiders and earthworms.

Treeswifts and people

People enjoy the beautiful sight of having to watch treeswift while in flight. Although they are nocturnal, some, like Gray-rumped birds, are active at dusk and can be seen flying down to drink water.

Conservation status

Treeswifts are not an endangered species in any way and are not about be extinct.

Physical characteristics

Treeswifts belong to the order Apordiformes that also has swifts and hummingbirds. Swifts and hummingbirds have weaker feet compared to other birds and therefore perch, sit or stand less often. This makes them lack in similar physical characteristics with other birds. Treeswifts on the contrary, have stronger legs that enable them to perch on the trees. Most swifts have grey plumage- which is the color of the feathers. Treeswifts and hummingbirds are more colorful compared to the rest of the members of this order and also have additional streaks in their plumage. The birds are named depending on some features that they have; for instance, crests, whiskers and rumps.