The Papuan spine-tailed swift (''Mearnsia novaeguineae''), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papua spinetail, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky
swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. Head and upperparts glossy blue-black, white or whitish belly and undertail coverts, dark underwing with pale central stripe. The small spines at the end of the tail are not visible in flight.
Distribution
Endemic to
New Guinea where it is widespread in the lowlands and hills up to 550 m. It has been recorded from
Boigu Island, Queensland
Boigu Island (also known as Malu Kiyay or Malu Kiwai) is the most northerly inhabited island of Queensland and of Australia. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Pe ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n territory in north-western
Torres Strait.
Habitat
Forest edges, gardens and cleared areas with standing dead trees.
Food
Flying insects.
Breeding
Nests in a high
tree hollows.
Conservation
Common and widespread species assessed as being of
Least Concern.
References
* Beehler, Bruce M.; & Finch, Brian W. (1985). ''Species Checklist of the Birds of New Guinea''. RAOU Monograph No.1. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne.
* Beehler, Bruce M.; Pratt, Thane K.; & Zimmerman, Dale A. (1986). ''Birds of New Guinea''. Wau Ecology Handbook No.9. Princeton University Press.
* BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: ''Mearnsia novaeguineae''. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2 February 2007
* Clarke, Rohan H. (2006). Papuan Spine-tailed Swifts Mearnsia novaeguineae on Boigu Island, Torres Strait, Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology 23: 125–129.
* Coates, Brian J. (1985). ''The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1: Non-Passerines''. Dover Publications: Alderley, Queensland.
Papuan spine-tailed swift
The Papuan spine-tailed swift (''Mearnsia novaeguineae''), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papua spinetail, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. ...
Birds of New Guinea
Papuan spine-tailed swift
The Papuan spine-tailed swift (''Mearnsia novaeguineae''), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papua spinetail, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. ...
Papuan spine-tailed swift
The Papuan spine-tailed swift (''Mearnsia novaeguineae''), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papua spinetail, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. ...
Endemic fauna of New Guinea
{{Apodiformes-stub