Grey-rumped Treeswift feeding chick

When the chick of the Grey-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis) is in its nest alone, the camouflage is perfect. The chick and the nest appear like a blob of grey sitting on a slender branch (above). They are indistinguishable.

When an adult is at the nest, its whitish breast provides contrast to the chick’s general appearance, making the presence of the chick obvious (above).

The video below shows an adult male feeding the chick by regularly regurgitating bolus of food to insert them deep into the open mouth of the chick (above).

Only when the chick is older will it take food from the adult’s mouth.

Jeremiah Loei
Singapore
10th August 2016

References:
1. Wells, D.R., 1999a. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London. 648 pp.
2. Wells, D. R., 1999b. Family Hemiprocnidae (Tree-swifts). In del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 5. Barn-owls to hummingbirds. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 458-466.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.