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Collocalia sp. - Glossy Swiftlet The only way to get close to this avian was to shoot it as it flew by.<br />
<br />
Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/37909/collocalia_sp_-_glossy_swiftlet.html" title="Collocalia sp - Glossy Swiftlet"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2784/37909_thumb.JPG?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=tM%2FvisgCs4ycwXFWHZK%2FpsLb3Gs%3D" width="200" height="200" alt="Collocalia sp - Glossy Swiftlet Even though it is a bad image, taken from a long distance, I have added it to possibly help with ID issues. The significance of this image, is that it shows the tail feathers spread. You can see longitudinal light stripe markings, but these could just be interpreted as light reflections, but there are no white spot markings revealed.<br />
<br />
There are two genus in question:<br />
<br />
Collocalia esculenta sp. &ndash; distributed throughout S.Asia except for Java. Noted for low altitude. Tail feathers have no spot markings.<br />
<br />
Collocalia linchi linchi &ndash; distribution; Java, Madura, Nusa Penida and Bawean islands. No mention of altitude found. Tail feathers have concealed white spot markings near base.<br />
<br />
The Collocalia sp. Specimens in these images were photographed at an altitude of 985m. It is possible that even with the tail extended, that the spots are still not visible, but I consider this unlikely, otherwise there would be no evolutionary significance for the markings.<br />
<br />
Location and Altitude point away from Esculenta, leaving us with a quotable genus and species. Without the spots, we are left with Esculenta and a species overlooked that has adapted to altitude.<br />
<br />
Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/37887/collocalia_esculenta_affinis_-_glossy_swiftlet.html Bandung,Cave swiftlet,Collocalia linchi,Geotagged,Glossy Swiftlet,Indonesia,Java,West Java,Winter,swift" /></a></figure> Bandung,Cave swiftlet,Collocalia linchi,Geotagged,Glossy Swiftlet,Indonesia,Java,West Java,Winter,swift Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Collocalia sp. - Glossy Swiftlet

The only way to get close to this avian was to shoot it as it flew by.

Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.

Collocalia sp - Glossy Swiftlet Even though it is a bad image, taken from a long distance, I have added it to possibly help with ID issues. The significance of this image, is that it shows the tail feathers spread. You can see longitudinal light stripe markings, but these could just be interpreted as light reflections, but there are no white spot markings revealed.<br />
<br />
There are two genus in question:<br />
<br />
Collocalia esculenta sp. – distributed throughout S.Asia except for Java. Noted for low altitude. Tail feathers have no spot markings.<br />
<br />
Collocalia linchi linchi – distribution; Java, Madura, Nusa Penida and Bawean islands. No mention of altitude found. Tail feathers have concealed white spot markings near base.<br />
<br />
The Collocalia sp. Specimens in these images were photographed at an altitude of 985m. It is possible that even with the tail extended, that the spots are still not visible, but I consider this unlikely, otherwise there would be no evolutionary significance for the markings.<br />
<br />
Location and Altitude point away from Esculenta, leaving us with a quotable genus and species. Without the spots, we are left with Esculenta and a species overlooked that has adapted to altitude.<br />
<br />
Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/37887/collocalia_esculenta_affinis_-_glossy_swiftlet.html Bandung,Cave swiftlet,Collocalia linchi,Geotagged,Glossy Swiftlet,Indonesia,Java,West Java,Winter,swift

    comments (2)

  1. Collocalia esculenta affinis is found on Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
    http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=1834AA05EA4E05DD
    http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_ID=568&Bird_Image_ID=72492&p=8

    There are no records for any of the Collocalia esculenta subspecies from Java.
    http://www.hbw.com/species/glossy-swiftlet-collocalia-esculenta

    Collocalia linchi linchi is found on Java, Madura, Nusa Penida and Bawean islands.
    http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=425B2797&sec=summary&ssver=1
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/graham_ekins_world_wildlife/16045075076/in/photostream/

    The difference between the two species is in the presence or absence of white spots on the tail which only become visible when the feathers are separated.
    http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S084.htm
    Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
    1. I agree. affinis is definitely not acceptable.

      There is no geographical reason why Esculenta could not have occupied Java. But, the evolution of the Javan species' white tail spot markings would generate a new genus. There is also a question of the altitude of close to 1000m, were Esculenta is documented as low altitude.

      I have added a new image, showing the tail spread, and detailing my thoughts. See what you think. If you reckon that we should go with linchi linchi, then so be it, I will go with that. If you think that there is more to this, then maybe JungleDragon should be talking to the curators.

      Dave
      Posted 9 years ago

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The cave swiftlet is a species of swift in the Apodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is a woodland species and nests in caves.

Similar species: Swifts And Hummingbirds
Species identified by Vodkaman
View Vodkaman's profile

By Vodkaman

All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 17, 2016. Captured Jul 9, 2013 10:20 in Jl. Lavender No.8, Ciwaruga, Parongpong, Kabupaten Bandung Barat, Jawa Barat, Indonesia.
  • NIKON D7000
  • f/4.0
  • 1/4000s
  • ISO1000
  • 105mm