SWIFTS (Cont....)

WHITERUMPED SWIFT
Size Sparrow; length 15 cm (6 in).
Field Characters Above, Brownish black, with broad white rump-patch and deeply forked tail. Below, Squamatted or mottled black and white ('pepper and salt'), with whitish chin and throat ( subspecies leuconyx). Sexes alike. On a casual sighting would pass for a House Swift(121), but paler underparts and forked tail diagnostic.

Status, Habitat, etc. Uncertain. Occurs during breeding season (April-July) between 600 and 3600 m, but nesting in eastern Himalayan not yet recorded. Given to capricious wide-ranging nomadic movements. Keeps in small scattered parties, sometimes large flocks, hawking winged insects all day long: usually at great height in fine weather, at lower levels and close to ground under cloud overcast. Roosts colonially in rock fissures.

Food: flying insects--tiny beetles, bugs, ants, termites, etc.
Call: not specifically recorded.

HOUSE SWIFT
Size Sparrow; length 15 cm (6 in).
Field Characters Swallow-like in flight, but with short square tail and long narrow sickle-shaped wings. Overall smoky black with conspicuous white rump and throat ( subspecies nipalensis). Sexes alike. Could casually be confused with Whiterumped Swift, but blacker underparts and square (v.forked) tail diagnosis. The rather similar-looking Martins have white underparts and broader wings.

Status, Habitat, etc. Resident; subject to seasonal local and altitudinal movements. Plain levels up to 2000 m: neighbourhood of villages, dzongs and cliffs. Gregarious: habits typical of swifts. Scattered rabbles spend most of the day on the wing, dashing about at great speed on rapidly quivering or stiffly held wings, alternated with swooping glides and agile wheeling and banking movements in pursuit of prey. Roosts at night among clustered colonies of old nests--the 'nest villager'--built within dzongs or on cliffs.

Food: tiny winged insects.
Call: shril, joyous, musical twittering 'screams', usually uttered when 'balling' up in the sky at dusk preparatory to roosting.

REDHEADED TROGON Harpactes erythrocephhanlus(Gould)
Size Myna; with longer tail. Combined length 35 cm (14 in.).
Field Characters A brilliantly coloured forest bird. Male. Head, neck and breast deep crimson, with a rudimentary white breast-band. Back rusty brown, vermiculated black and white on wing coverts and tertiaries. Tail black and white. Below, from breast down lighter crimson. Female. Head, neck and breast orange brown. Rest as in male (subspecies hodgsoni).
Status Habitat, etc. Resident; duars, foothills and up to 1800 m: dense evergreen jungle. Singly or pairs; silent, sluggish, and rather crepuscular. Perches upright on tree stumps or low branches along a shady jungle path or glade and makes fussy, fluttering aerial sorties thence after passing insects, flying on to a fresh perch after each capture.

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