Purple Needletail Hirundapus celebensis Scientific name definitions

An apparently scarce bird throughout its range, the Purple Needletail is arguably the most beautiful of the Hirundapus. It is also the most poorly known, with virtually nothing known about its diet, breeding biology and even vocalizations. In addition to the Philippines, where it is widely recorded, except from Palawan (which is occupied by Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus), Purple Needletail also occurs on Sulawesi, where it is apparently confined to the northern peninsula. Like other needletails, this is a large, powerful-looking and broad-winged swift, with a rather protruding head and bulky rear body, and rectrix spines that project from the tail tip; however, its largely black body is glossed purple, and there are no pale markings on the head or upperparts, leaving the Hirundapus trademark white ‘horseshoe’ marking on the posterior underparts as the only standout feature.