Brown-backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus) is a large swift of about 23 cm, found in the hill forests of India. It is bigger than the Alpine Swift and the
White-throated Needletail. The bird gets it name from the spiny end to the tail. It has very short legs, which it uses mainly for clinging to vertical surfaces. Its flight is very fast, compared to other swifts.
Nest is built in rock crevices of cliffs. Three to five eggs are laid.
Brown-backed Needletail can be sighted in the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala.
