General
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Thai clasifies swifts as a kind of แอ่น àeen, an old areal bird name akin to to the modern Chinese 燕 and Vietnamese én, which means 'swallow; any of various swallow-like birds'. In modern Thai this name has been used as the base for the formation of bird names in several different families of birds of similar appearance, principally the Hirundinidae (swallows) and Apodidae (swifts), but also including the Hemiprocnidae (treeswifts), Glareolidae (pratincoles), and Artamidae (woodswallows) -- all of which remain แอ่น àeen in the traditional classification. An expanded discussion of แอ่น àeen appears at the Hirundinidae.
For scientific terminology, since แอ่น àeen alone could be ambiguous, more complex names based on แอ่น àeen were selected to represent the early ornithological names for the various kinds of แอ่น àeen. For the swifts นกแอ่นบินเร็ว nók àeen-bin-rew 'fly-fast swallow-bird' was selected for 'swift' and this was used to form the family name for the Apodidae in the classical taxonomy. However, ornithological common names for genera and species within the Apodidae began instead with a shorter base form, นกแอ่น nók àeen. Etymologically, นกแอ่น nók àeen would be expected to mean 'swallow-bird', but in modern Thai it has now come to mean only 'swift (bird)'. When recent taxonomic revisions based on molecular biology were presented, a new Apodidae family name was adopted which reflects this polarising semantic shift: งศ์นกแอ่น woŋ nók-àeen.
The internal scientific classification of the Apodidae includes the following general names:
นกแอ่น nók àeen 'swift' Apus swifts; Aerodramus (and Collocalia) swiftlets
นกแอ่นใหญ่ nók àeen yày 'large-swift' Hirundapus needletail swifts
นกแอ่นเล็ก nók àeen lék 'small-swift' Rhaphidura spinetail swifts
นกแอ่ตาล nók àeen taan 'palm-swift' Cypsiurus palm swifts
While the treeswifts are known as นกแอ่นฟ้า nók-àeen-fáa, literally 'sky-swallow (bird)', the name is an ornithological coinage that varies from the popular meaning of its components. ฟ้า fáa 'sky' is intended to connote 'regal, heavenly, etc.' and refers to plumage fancier than that shown by other kinds of แอ่น àeen. The term แอ่น àeen itself refers to the ornithological meaning of 'swift' rather than the vernacular meaning of 'swallow'. Therefore the intended meaning of นกแอ่นฟ้า nók-àeen-fáa is one of 'regal swift (bird)'.
Species names
| HEMIPROCNINAE | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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| Hemiprocne | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Hemiprocne coronata | Crested treeswift Crested tree swift Crested swift |
นกแอ่นฟ้าหงอน nók àeen-fáa ŋŏaan 'crested sky-swallow (bird)' |
Hemiprocne longipennis (12): Chim Yến mào 'crested swift (bird)' (12, 34) |
凤头雨燕 (鳳頭雨燕) 'phoenix-headed rain-swallow' (2, 4) Hemiprocne longipennis (1), Hemiprocne coronata (3): 凤头树燕 (鳳頭樹燕) 'phoenix head tree-swallow' |
インドカンムリアマツバメ (インド冠雨燕) indo kanmuri ama-tsubame 'Indian crested rain-swallow' (Wikipedia etc.) |
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Hemiprocne longipennis |
Grey-rumped treeswift | นกแอ่นฟ้าตะโพกสีเทา nók àeen-fáa tà-pʰôok-tʰaw 'grey-rumped sky-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Berjambul Kelabu 'grey tufted swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-layang Berjambul Tongkeng Kelabu 'grey-rumped tufted swallow (bird)' (25) Burung Layang-layang Jambul Kelabu 'grey crested swallow (bird)' (24) |
Burung Tepekong Jambul 'crested treeswift (bird)' |
灰腰雨燕 (灰腰雨燕) 'grey-rumped rain-swallow' (4)  Note |
カンムリアマツバメ (冠雨燕) kanmuri ama-tsubame 'crested rain-swallow' |
||
| Hemiprocne comata | Whiskered treeswift Lesser tree swift |
นกแอ่นฟ้าเคราขาว nók àeen-fáa kʰraw-kʰăaw 'white-whiskered sky-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Berjambul Kecil 'small tufted swallow (bird)' (25, 26) Burung Layang-layang Jambul Kecil 'small crested swallow (bird)' (24) |
Burung Tepekong Rangkang 'forked treeswift (bird)' |
小须凤头雨燕 (小鬚鳳頭雨燕) 'small whiskered phoenix-headed rain-swallow' (4) 小凤头雨燕 (小鳳頭雨燕) 'small phoenix-headed rain-swallow' (5) 须凤头雨燕 (鬚鳳頭雨燕) 'whiskered phoenix-headed rain-swallow' (10) (in 4 used for H. mystacea) |
コシラヒゲカンムリアマツバメ (小白髭冠雨燕) ko shira-hige kanmuri ama-tsubame 'small white-whiskered crested rain-swallow' |
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| APODINAE | ||||||||
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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| Rhaphidura | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Rhaphidura leucopygialis Chaetura leucopygialis |
Silver-rumped spinetailed swift Silver-rumped Spinetail |
นกแอ่นเล็กหางหนามตะโพกขาว nók àeen lék hăaŋ-năam tà-pʰôok-kʰăaw 'white-rumped thorn-tailed small-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Ekor Pendek 'short-tailed swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-layang Kecil 'small swallow (bird)' (24) Burung Layang-layang Tongkeng Perak 'silver-rumped swallow (bird)' (25) |
Burung Kapinis-jarum Kecil 'small needle-swift (bird)' |
银腰针尾雨燕 'silver-rumped needle-tailed rain-swallow' (4) 白腰刺尾雨燕 'white-rumped spine-tailed rain-swallow' (5, 10) |
チビハリオアマツバメ (ちび針尾雨燕) chibi hari-o ama-tsubame 'tiny needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
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| Hirundapus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Hirundapus caudacutus Hirundapus caudacuta Chaetura caudacuta |
White-throated needletail White-throated spine-tailed swift Spinetail swift |
นกแอ่นใหญ่คอขาว nók àeen yày kʰoaa-kʰăaw 'white-throated large swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Leher Putih 'white-necked swallow (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Layang-layang Ekor Runcing Utara 'northern sharp-tailed swallow (bird)' (25) |
Burung Kapinis-jarum Asia 'Asian needle-swift (bird)' |
Chim Yến đuôi cứng hông trắng 'stiff-tailed white-rumped swift (bird)' (12) |
白喉针尾雨燕 (白喉針尾雨燕) 'white-throated needle-tailed rain-swallow' Taiwan: (白喉针尾雨燕) 白喉針尾雨燕 'white-throated needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
ハリオアマツバメ (針尾雨燕) hari-o ama-tsubame 'needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
|
| Hirundapus cochinchinensis |
Silver-backed needletail Grey-throated spinetail swift White-vented spine-tailed swift Needletailed swift White-vented needletail |
นกแอ่นใหญ่หัวตาดำ nók àeen yày hŭa-taa-dam 'black-lored large-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Rengkong Putih 'white-throated swallow (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Layang-layang Ekor Runcing Indocina 'Indochinese sharp-tailed swallow (bird)' (25) |
Burung Kapinis-jarum Pantat-putih 'white-rumped needle-swift (bird)' |
Chim Yến đuôi cứng bụng trắng 'stiff-tailed white-bellied swift (bird)' (12) |
白背针尾雨燕 (白背針尾雨燕) 'white-backed needle-tailed rain-swallow' (2, 4) 灰喉针尾雨燕 (灰喉針尾雨燕) 'grey-throated needle-tailed rain-swallow' (1, 3, 5) Taiwan: (灰喉针尾雨燕) 灰喉針尾雨燕 'grey-throated needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
コシジロハリオアマツバメ (腰白針尾雨燕) koshi-jiro hari-o ama-tsubame 'white-rumped needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
|
| Hirundapus giganteus Hirundapus gigantea |
Brown-backed needletail Brown spine-tailed swift Large brown-throated spinetail swift |
นกแอ่นใหญ่หัวตาขาว nók àeen yày hŭa-taa-kʰăaw 'white-lored large-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Besar 'large swallow (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Layang-layang Ekor Runcing Biasa 'common sharp-tailed swallow (bird)' (25) |
Burung Kapinis-jarum Gedang 'big needle-swift (bird)' |
Chim Yến đuôi cứng lớn 'large stiff-tailed swift (bird)' (12) |
褐背针尾雨燕 (褐背針尾雨燕) 'brown-backed needle-tailed rain-swallow' (4) 褐喉针尾雨燕 (褐喉針尾雨燕) 'brown-throated needle-tailed rain-swallow' (5) |
オオハリオアマツバメ (大針尾雨燕) ō hari-o ama-tsubame 'large needle-tailed rain swallow' |
|
| Collocalia | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Collocalia esculenta |
Glossy swiftlet White-bellied swiftlet |
นกแอ่นท้องขาว nók àeen tʰóaaŋ-kʰăaw 'white-bellied swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Perut Putih 'white-bellied swallow (bird)' (24, 26) or Burung Layang-layang Licin 'glossy swallow (bird)' (24) |
Burung Walet Sapi 'cattle swiftlet (bird)' (sapi from Javanese) |
白腹金丝燕 (白腹金絲燕) 'white-bellied gold-silk swallow' |
シロハラアナツバメ (白腹穴燕) shiro-hara ana-tsubame 'white-bellied hole-swallow' |
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| Aerodramus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Aerodramus brevirostris Collocalia brevirostris |
Himalayan swiftlet Indian edible-nest swiftlet Aerodramus rogersi: Indochinese swiftlet |
นกแอ่นพันธุ์หิมาลัย nók àeen pʰan hì-maa-lay 'Himalayan species swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Himalaya 'Himalayan swallow (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Collocalia brevirostris vulcanorum: Burung Walet Gunung 'mountain swiftlet (bird)' |
Chim Yến núi 'mountain swift (bird)' (12, 13, 34) Aerodramus rogersi: Chim Yến Đông Dương 'Indochinese swift (bird)' (34) |
短嘴金丝燕 (短嘴金絲燕) 'short-billed gold-silk swallow' |
ヒマラヤアナツバメ (ヒマラヤ穴燕) himaraya ana-tsubame 'Himalayan hole-swallow' |
|
| Aerodramus maximus Collocalia maxima |
Black-nest swiftlet Lowe's swiftlet |
นกแอ่นหางสี่เหลี่ยม |
Burung Layang-layang Sarang Hitam 'black-nest swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-layang Padi 'paddy swallow (bird)' (24, 25) |
Burung Walet Sarang Hitam 'black-nest swiftlet (bird)' |
Chim Yến sào đen 'black-nest swift (bird)' (34) |
大金丝燕 (大金絲燕) 'large gold-silk swallow' (4, 5) 方尾金丝燕 (方尾金絲燕) 'square-tailed gold-silk swallow' (10) |
オオアナツバメ (大穴燕) ō ana-tsubame 'large hole-swallow' |
|
| Aerodramus fuciphagus Collocalia fuciphaga (Aerodramus germani= Aerodramus fuciphagus germani) |
Edible-nest swiftlet Thunberg's swiftlet Aerodramus germani: German's Swiftlet |
Aerodramus germani: นกแอ่นกินรัง nók àeen kin-raŋ 'nest-edible swallow (bird)' |
นกแอ่นกินรัง nók àeen kin-raŋ 'nest-edible swallow (bird)' (21) Aerodramus germani: นกแอ่นกินรังตะโพกขาว nók àeen kin-raŋ tà-pʰôok-kʰăaw 'white-rumped nest-edible swallow (bird)' (21) |
Burung Layang-layang Gua 'cave swallow (bird)' (24, 25, 26) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Cecropis daurica) |
Burung Walet Sarang-putih 'white-nest swiftlet (bird)' |
Aerodramus germani (34): Chim Yến hông xám 'grey-rumped swift (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
爪哇金丝燕 (爪哇金絲燕) 'Javanese gold-silk swallow' |
ジャワアナツバメ (ジャワ穴燕) jawa ana-tsubame 'Javanese hole-swallow' |
| Cypsiurus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Cypsiurus balasiensis |
Asian palm swift Palm swift |
นกแอ่นตาล nók àeen taan '(sugar-)palm swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Palma 'palm swallow (bird)' (from English 'palm') (26) Burung Layang-layang Asia 'Asian swallow (bird)' (24) Burung Layang-layang Lontar 'palmyra swallow (bird)' (palmyra = a type of palm) (25) |
Burung Walet-palem Asia 'Asian palm-swiftlet (bird)' (from Dutch 'palm') |
Chim Yến cọ 'palm swift (bird)' (12, 34) |
棕雨燕 (棕雨燕) 'palm rain-swallow' Taxonomy
Taiwan: (棕雨燕) 棕雨燕 'palm rain-swallow' |
アジアヤシハリオアマツバメ (アジア椰子針尾雨燕) ajia yashi hari-o ama-tsubame 'Asian palm needle-tailed rain-swallow' |
|
| Apus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
| Apus acuticauda Apus acuticaudus |
Dark-rumped Swift Dark-backed Swift |
นกแอ่นท้องลาย nók àeen tʰóaaŋ-laay 'stripe-bellied swallow (bird)' |
-Note |
暗背雨燕 (暗背雨燕) 'dark-backed rain-swallow' (4) 暗背刺尾雨燕 (暗背刺尾雨燕) dark-backed spine-tailed rain swallow' (5) |
セグロアマツバメ (背黒雨燕) se-guro ama-tsubame 'black-backed rain-swallow' |
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| Apus pacificus |
Fork-tailed swift or Pacific swift Large white-rumped swift Larger white-rumped swift Northern white-rumped swift |
นกแอ่นตะโพกขาวหางแฉก nók àeen tà-pʰôok-kʰăaw hăaŋ-cʰàeek 'V-shape-tailed white-rumped swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Ekor Cabang 'fork-tailed swallow (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Layang-layang Timur 'eastern swallow (bird)' (25) |
Burung Kapinis Laut 'sea swift (bird)' |
Chim Yến hông trắng 'white-rumped swift (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
白腰雨燕 (白腰雨燕) 'white-rumped rain-swallow' Taiwan: (叉尾雨燕) 叉尾雨燕 'fork-tailed rain-swallow' |
アマツバメ (雨燕) ama-tsubame 'rain-swallow' |
|
| Apus nipalensis | House swift | Apus affinis: นกแอ่นบ้าน nók àeen bâan 'house swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Rumah 'house swallow (bird)' (24, 25, 26) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Delichon dasypus) |
Burung Kapinis Rumah 'house swift (bird)' |
Apus affinis: Chim Yến cằm trắng 'white-chinned swift (bird)' (12, 13) |
Apus affinis (1, 3, 5), Apus nipalensis (2, 4): 小白腰雨燕 (小白腰雨燕) 'small white-rumped rain-swallow' Taiwan: (小雨燕) 小雨燕 'small rain-swallow' Taxonomy |
ヒメアマツバメ (姫雨燕) hime ama-tsubame 'princess rain-swallow' |
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中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)
香港及華南鳥類（第六版）（翻譯成中文及重新修訂） 尹璉、費嘉倫、林超英 香港性徵特區政府新聞處政府印務局 1994年
Birds of Hong Kong and South China (6th edition, translated into Chinese and newly revised) by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps, Lin Chaoying, Hong Kong Govt. Press 1994
Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore / Senai Jenis-Jenis Burung di Singapura / 新加坡野鸟目录 by Lim Kim Seng Nature Society (Singapore) 1999
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
นกในเมืองไทย รศ. โอภาส ขอบเขตต (Birds in Thailand, Assoc. Prof. Obhas Khobkhet), in 5 volumes, Sarakadee Press, Bangkok, 1998-2001
Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981 (List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981
Previously online version of: Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 - Non-passerines by Wells, David R., Academic Press, London 1999
A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007
A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (second edition) by Jeyarajasingham, Allen, Illustrations by Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2012
A Field Guide to the Birds of Java and Bali (second edition) by MacKinnon, John, Gadjah Mada University Press, Yogyakarta 1990
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
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