An earlier post describes the courtship and mating of a pair of Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata). The nesting has also been described for the Grey-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis).
This post by Hong & Cheng a.k.a. catspace gives a clear view of the delicate nest of the Whiskered Treeswift. The photographs were taken in August 2009 from the Panti forest in nearby Malaysian state of Johor. The couple was fortunate to encounter the nesting on a low branch. Another pair was building their nest on a higher branch.
The nest is a half-saucer attached to the side of a slender twig (above right). Made from the birds’ saliva and strengthened with feathers, it is just big enough to hold a single egg. As the nest is small and light, the bird has to squat on the slender twig to incubate the egg. When the bird is incubating, the nest is not visible (above left).
All images by Hong & Cheng.
This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.
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