Papuan Spine-tailed Swift (Mearnsia novaeguineae)
About the Papuan Spine-tailed Swift
The Papuan spinetail (Mearnsia novaeguineae), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papuan spine-tailed swift, is a species of swift native to the island of New Guinea. Mearnsia novaeguineae is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail. Tail spines extend up to 1 mm beyond the web of the tail. Head and upperparts glossy green-black, grey-throat with a white underside. Wings display hooked ends, and are widest at the middle before tapering into the body. Endemic to New Guinea where it is widespread in the lowlands and hills up to 550 m. In 2004, the species was first recorded in Australia when three individuals were observed on Boigu Island, Queensland. Forest edges, gardens and cleared areas with standing dead trees. Flying insects.
No audio on this page yet
We only publish recordings we may use commercially, because this site is supported by ads. xeno-canto lists 3 recordings for this species: 2 CC BY-NC-SA. None of them permits commercial use, so there is no player here — the page is kept as a profile so the bird is not missing from the guide.
As soon as someone uploads a freely licensed recording, we mirror it and the player appears here.
Listed as recorded in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea in the xeno-canto catalogue.
Other birds you can hear here
- Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieillotirecording
- Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiirecording
- Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiaerecording
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisrecording
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- Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonicarecording
These are the birds recorded alongside it, not close relatives — the site holds no other member of its genus or family yet.