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🧬 Biological Classification (Kingdom to Species)Hirundapus caudacutus

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Apodiformes

Family

Apodidae

Genus

Hirundapus

Species

Hirundapus caudacutus

Aves🥩 Carnivore

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus (White-throated Needletail · ハリオアマツバメ)

🛡️ Conservation Status (IUCN Red List)LC (Least Concern)

DDData Deficient

LCLeast Concern

NTNear Threatened

VUVulnerable

ENEndangered

CRCritically End.

EWExtinct in Wild

EXExtinct

Geological Era

Extant

Diet

Carnivore

Length · Height

21cm · No data

Mass · Top Speed

93g · 130km/h

Habitat & Fossil Locality

Spends most of its time flying in the sky; breeds in northern Asia and winters in eastern and northern Australia

💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed

💡 Its body length of 21 cm is equal to the short side of an A4 sheet of paper (21 cm), and its speed of 130 km/h is faster than a highway speed limit (110 km/h) (Comparison).
💡 In Australia, it is observed catching insects on rising air currents created by bushfires or storms (Australian Museum).

Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.

📊 Mass & Speed Index (0–100)

⚖️ Mass Index (Blue Whale ~190 t = 100, log scale)24

⚡ Speed Index (400 km/h = 100)33

Site-computed relative index from recorded values; not a formal scientific metric.

#바늘꼬리칼새#Hirundapus caudacutus

📖 1. Overview

The White-throated Needletail is a swift that breeds in northern Asia and migrates to Australia for the winter, spending almost its entire life in the air catching flying insects.

🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology

Its wings are long, pointed, and curved, and it has a special membrane and tiny feather bristles that protect its eyes when catching prey.

🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior

It catches flying insects such as termites, ants, beetles, and flies on the wing and even drinks water in flight. It does not breed in Australia, arriving around October and departing between May and August, and recent tracking has confirmed that it roosts in trees.