Black-nest Swiftlet
Aerodramus maximus
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<birdfyi-bird slug="aerodramus-maximus"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized swiftlet (13-14 cm) found from the Malay Peninsula through Indonesia to the Philippines. Dark plumage. Aerial insectivore. Colonial cave nester, building nests primarily of dark feathers cemented with saliva on cave walls. Commercially harvested for bird's nest soup.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm | 10.2 in |
| Weight | 16.8 g | 0.59 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Medium-small; dark sooty-brown upperparts with rump slightly paler grey-brown; underparts dark sooty-grey; forked tail; one of the largest Aerodramus swiftlets; named for its distinctive all-black saliva nest rather than visible plumage feature.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found from the Nicobar Islands through the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and the Philippines. Famous for edible nests made of pure saliva.
Diet & Feeding
Aerial plankton feeder taking tiny midges, fungus gnats, and ballooning spiders in rapid coursing flights.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Incubation: 24-32 days. Fledging: 52-65 days.
Clutch Size
1
Sound
Song
Rapid twittering; thin 'tsit-tsit' over Southeast Asian forest; audible echolocation clicks in caves; larger than many swiftlets; slightly louder calls; colonial nester with dark nest
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Aerodramus |
| Species | Aerodramus maximus |
Distribution
Black-nest Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Black-nest Swiftlet eat?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family