Introduction
The Crested Treeswift (Hemiprocne coronata) is a slender, long-tailed aerial insectivore of the Indian subcontinent and mainland South-East Asia. It is recognised by its swept-back wings, deeply forked tail, pointed crest and graceful, manoeuvrable flight. Unlike true swifts, treeswifts regularly perch on branches and other elevated surfaces.
Physical Description
The Crested Treeswift is about 23 centimetres long. It has a slim body, long pointed wings and a long, deeply forked tail. The upperparts are dove-grey to grey-brown, while the underparts are mostly white. The head is crested, and the tail often appears narrow and pointed in flight.
Adults show sexual dimorphism. The male has distinctive chestnut to orange-brown ear-coverts and cheeks, with a narrow white mark below the eye. The female lacks the strong chestnut facial patch and usually shows a more noticeable pale stripe below the eye. Young birds are duller and more heavily marked, with pale edging to the feathers and a more streaked appearance.
The feet are adapted for clinging to branches and other perches. This helps distinguish treeswifts from true swifts, which are much less likely to perch in the same manner.
Range and Habitat
The Crested Treeswift is resident across much of the Indian subcontinent, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and extends eastwards through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and parts of southern China. Its distribution is broad but uneven, and it is generally absent from some areas of north-eastern India.
It uses evergreen and deciduous forest, woodland, forest edges, clearings, plantations and other well-wooded landscapes. The species often benefits from open airspace above or beside trees, where it can make repeated foraging flights. It is not regarded as a long-distance migrant, although local or seasonal movements may occur.
Where to See This Species
Kalesar National Park, Haryana, India
Crested Treeswifts have been documented in Kalesar National Park and the adjoining Shivalik forest landscape. The park’s sal-dominated woodland, forest edges and open spaces provide suitable perches and aerial foraging habitat. Look above the canopy and along forest roads, particularly during periods of active insect movement.
Nearby accommodation: Yamunanagar and the Hathnikund area provide practical bases with hotels, guest houses and other basic accommodation.
Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
The species is included in the park’s bird records. Doi Inthanon contains extensive forest across a wide elevational range, with roads, clearings and forest margins that provide the open flight paths used by aerial insectivores. Lower and middle elevations are likely to be more suitable than the highest montane areas.
Nearby accommodation: Chom Thong is the main gateway settlement, with hotels, guest houses, homestays, lodges and campsites available in and around the park area.
Yala National Park, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Crested Treeswifts are regularly recorded in Yala National Park and nearby areas. The park’s dry woodland, scattered trees and open clearings offer suitable perches and feeding space. Early morning and late afternoon are useful times to scan tall exposed branches and the airspace above woodland tracks.
Nearby accommodation: Tissamaharama and Kataragama are the principal gateway towns, with hotels, guest houses, lodges, camps and safari-oriented accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
Crested Treeswifts are active fliers that often sit upright on exposed branches before making swift, arcing sorties to catch insects in the air. They may forage singly, in pairs or in small groups, and can gather in loose family groups outside the breeding period.
The diet consists mainly of flying insects. Ants, beetles, moths and other small insects may be taken, although the exact composition of the diet is not well documented. The species usually catches prey in flight rather than searching extensively through foliage.
Breeding behaviour is closely associated with exposed branches and elevated perches. The nest is a very small, shallow platform made from fine materials such as feathers, bark fragments and plant material, held together and attached to the branch with saliva. A single egg is laid, and both parents participate in incubation and care of the chick. The nestling remains on the tiny platform as it develops.
Identification Tips
- Look for a slim, grey-and-white bird with long swept-back wings and a deeply forked tail.
- The pointed crest is conspicuous when the bird is perched.
- In flight, the long wings and narrow tail create a distinctive, elegant silhouette.
- Adult males show a chestnut or orange-brown patch around the cheeks and ear-coverts.
- Females lack the strong chestnut facial patch and show a clearer pale stripe below the eye.
- The species often perches upright on the top of a bare or lightly foliaged branch before making aerial feeding sorties.
- Do not confuse it with a true swift. Treeswifts have a more prominent crest, a deeply forked tail and a greater tendency to perch.
Conservation Status
The Crested Treeswift is currently assessed as Least Concern on the global IUCN Red List. This status reflects its broad distribution and does not mean that local populations are secure everywhere.
Habitat loss and degradation, especially the removal of mature woodland and the conversion of forest margins, may reduce nesting and foraging opportunities. In India, long-term monitoring has indicated a substantial decline in records from protected areas, although the current annual trend is less certain. Maintaining connected woodland, protecting mature trees and retaining open forest edges can help conserve suitable habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can the Crested Treeswift be found?
It occurs across the Indian subcontinent and mainland South-East Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and parts of Indochina and southern China.
Is the Crested Treeswift a true swift?
No. It belongs to the treeswift family, Hemiprocnidae. Treeswifts are related to true swifts but differ in their crest, deeply forked tail and regular use of perches.
What does the Crested Treeswift eat?
It feeds mainly on flying insects, including beetles, moths, ants and other small aerial insects caught during short, fast sorties from a perch.
How can males and females be distinguished?
Adult males usually have a conspicuous chestnut or orange-brown patch on the cheeks and ear-coverts. Females lack this strong patch and have a more evident pale facial stripe below the eye.
Does the Crested Treeswift migrate?
It is generally considered resident rather than a long-distance migrant. Local or seasonal movements may occur in response to weather, food availability or changing conditions.
Where does it build its nest?
The species builds a tiny, shallow nest on an exposed tree branch. The nest is attached with saliva and normally holds a single egg, which is cared for by both parents.
References
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- IOC World Bird List
- State of India’s Birds
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