Fai's Birding Blog: Germain's / Himalayan Swiftlet

During the trip to Zhejiang recently, I saw numerous swiftlets in different days and places. I identified them as Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris at first and this is (these are) first record(s) in Zhejiang Province.

After coming back to Hong Kong, I was told there are records of similar swiftlets in Shanghai, Matzu, and even Taiwan. It seems that this is an invasive-year of this species, but the habitat and time go wrong because Himalayan Swiftlets breed primarily in highlands at this time of year.

SteveM suggested these birds, including the swiftlets he found in Tainan may be Germain's Swiftlet Aerodramus germani mainly because
1. Season and Range
2. Rather small in size
3. Brown back which contrast with wing
4. More pale rump
5. Dark-capped
6. Shorter wing
7. Wing shape (?)

We still cannot be 100% sure the identities of these birds, whether real Germain's or another race of Himalayan, we just hope there will be more further observations and help solving this question as both species may turn out in HK one day.

Here are the photos I took in Zhejiang:

Brown back with contrast to wing, pale rump, a dark cap, shorter wing and smaller size, suggesting this belongs to Germain's Swiftlet Aerodramus germani