bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

One of ind on XC616492.

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

I was surprised to see five Whiskered Treeswifts together in one location. I have almost always seen them in pairs. I have seen three before, where there was a courtship ‘battle’ for a female. But on this occasion 5 birds were amicably together on a bare tree, foraging intermittently and extremely vocal; at least 2 were female and 2 males. Well (1999), on social organisation, states “Nearly always a territorial pair .… or at most a pair plus recent offspring …. A no stage do Grey-rumped Treeswift-type gatherings form ….” Chantler (Chantler P. 1995. Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World) says “Usually seen alone, or in pairs, although can be seen in groups of up to six”. The group of five birds showed no conflict and even sat of the same branch. As I mentioned, they were very vocal together. Both males and females vocalised and often at the same time. I took the opportunity to get call recordings. Calls made were the high pitched, up to 16 kHz and of the ‘kwi-kwi-kwi’ or ‘shi-shi-shi’ variety.

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no

bird-seen:yes

playback-used:no