Swifts (Apodidae)
Polynesian Swiftlet (Aerodramus leucophaeus) - HBW 5, p. 433
French: Salangane de la Société
German: Polynesiensalangane
Spanish: Salangana Polinesia
Other common names: South Pacific Swiftlet; Tahiti/Tahitian Swiftlet (leucophaeus); Marquesas/Marquesan Swiftlet (ocistus)
Taxonomy: Macropteryx leucophæus Peale, 1848, Tahiti.
Genus often merged into Collocalia. Has been considered to form a superspecies with A. sawtelli, or even to be conspecific, but apparently differs in nest habits. Race ocistus (with gilliardi) sometimes considered a distinct species, being intermediate in some features between nominate race and A. sawtelli. Variation in relative pallor of rump within birds of Tahitian population led to past recognition of pale-rumped race “thespesius”, but this is now considered to fall within normal variation of nominate race. Three subspecies currently recognize.. View all taxonomy...
Genus often merged into Collocalia. Has been considered to form a superspecies with A. sawtelli, or even to be conspecific, but apparently differs in nest habits. Race ocistus (with gilliardi) sometimes considered a distinct species, being intermediate in some features between nominate race and A. sawtelli. Variation in relative pallor of rump within birds of Tahitian population led to past recognition of pale-rumped race “thespesius”, but this is now considered to fall within normal variation of nominate race. Three subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- leucophaeus (Peale, 1848) - Moorea and Tahiti (E Society Is).
- ocistus (Oberholser, 1906) - Eiao, Nuku Hiva and Ua Huka (N Marquesas).
- gilliardi (Somadikarta, 1994) - Ua Pu, Hiva Oa and Tahuata (S Marquesas).
- Least Concern
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