Papuan spinetail

Papuan spinetail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Genus: Mearnsia
Species:
M. novaeguineae
Binomial name
Mearnsia novaeguineae

The Papuan spinetail (Mearnsia novaeguineae), also known as the Papuan needletail, New Guinea spine-tailed swift or Papuan spine-tailed swift, is a small (11.5 cm in length), stocky swift with a short, rounded tail and very fast flight. Head and upperparts glossy blue-black, white or whitish belly and undertail coverts, dark underwing with pale central stripe. The small spines at the end of the tail are not visible in flight.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Mearnsia novaeguineae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22686634A93119357. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22686634A93119357.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.