The Purple needletail (Hirundapus celebensis), is the largest species of swift found in the Old World. This species is distributed from northeastern Sulawesi through the Philippine islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Calayan, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Biliran, Mindanao and Basilan. This bird lives in various forests and open country. They may found in the lowlands or in hills, from 150–2,000 m (490–6,560 ft) high in elevation.