Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata), unlike typical swifts, is able to perch firmly on twigs and branches with the aid of its non-reversible hind toe. It likes to sit in a rather upright posture at a spot where it has a good all-round view of the surroundings.

This image by Low Choon How a.k.a. dominator shows a Whiskered Treeswift perching on a branch and looking backwards. Yes, it has turned 180º which enables it to see at the back.

All birds have long necks. This is not apparent because the neck is folded in an S-shape and concealed by the feathers. The large number of cervical vertebrae that can rotate against one another in all directions allow for such movements. This ability compensates for the lack of eye movement in birds due to the large eyeball in a compact streamlined head that has no space for eye muscles.

An earlier post shows the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) making a similar 180º head turn, enabling it to preen its tail feathers while still perched on the branch.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

“It has been a better migration year compared to last few years, with more Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica gutturalis) and more first winter/juveniles seen. This group comprised approximately 150-160 birds, with 10-15% first winter/juveniles. They were preening mid-morning after feeding.

“Still a far cry from when I first came to this region (Perak) in the early 1980’s when we used to see thousands of these on electrical wires in Ipoh City. You had to be very careful where you parked when you went out at night to eat or else your car could get completely splattered by…

“The image at the top shows the swallows loading on a wire, sitting close to each other. That above shows a first winter/juvenile bird”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th November 2009

Choo Teik Ju’s studies of a Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) fledgling show the changing mood of the young bird as it waits for the adults to arrive with food. It sits quietly when the adults are not nowhere in sight (above left). Note the yellow flanges lining the mandibles. The moment it senses an adult coming, it gapes widely to highlight the yellow-red bottomless pit of a throat lined by the flanges (above right). At the same time screeching loudly. All these help guide the adult on where to deposit the food. Once the adult is in sight, the wings will unfold, probably to make itself conspicuous (below left).

Once fed, the fledgling may indulge in comfort behaviour, stretching its wings one at a time (above right) or both together and scratching its head.

The photographs were documented by Choo Teik Ju at the Mai Po Marshes, Hongkong.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

On 16th September 2009, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS visited his favourite birding site at the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia to keep watch on a pair of Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata comata) that he suspected to be nesting.

“Went back to watch this pair as their behaviour last week suggested that they were going to nest in this tree. Was pleasantly surprised when they mated in front of me. Managed to get some quick pictures against the light – was magical. They looked like angles with their wings outspread.”

The composite image above shows how difficult the mating is – a balancing act for the male. The female has to have a proper grip on the perch least she falls off as the male mounts her.

As Amar recounts, “Before and after mating this pair, in their home tree, spent a lot of time preening, more so before than after mating. After mating the male preened (above left) and then had this feather in his beak (above right), which he kept for some time, even in flight to and from the tree. I recognised they were about to build the nest but my presence was inhibiting so I left to give them space.

“I suspect the feather was obtained during preening - not sure if intentionally plucked or just a loose occurrence.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Perak, Malaysia
14th September 2009

Following the posting on the initial efforts of a House Swift (Apus affinis) at building a nest on a vertical wall, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS sent in his observations and a composite image on the Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica javanica) initial nest building efforts:

“I saw a pair of Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica javanica) checking out a flat wall at the Buddhist Monastery, Tambun (Perak, Malaysia) on 3rd Jan 2009. 
See the composite above. 
I considered that they were contemplating building a nest, despite the 90 degree angle.
 When one bird moved away, a wasp nest, partially broken was visible (above right). 
It could be that the birds were looking for prey - this is recognised prey but usually caught on the wing and they are not reported to dig a wasp nest for prey. 
Their general behavior implied considering starting a nest - perhaps using an old wasp nest as a starting point.”