Cave Swiftlet
Collocalia linchi
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<birdfyi-bird slug="collocalia-linchi"></birdfyi-bird>About
A very small swiftlet (9 cm) found in Java, Bali, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sundas. Dark glossy plumage with a pale rump band. Aerial insectivore, foraging in flocks. One of the primary nest-producing swiftlets; its edible nests (made of saliva) are commercially harvested.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 18.7 cm | 7.4 in |
| Weight | 6.05 g | 0.21 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Tiny; dark blue-black upperparts with faint gloss; pale greyish rump band; underparts whitish with grey-buff flanks; moderately forked tail; widespread in caves across Sundaland; less glossy and less white below than Glossy Swiftlet.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Found in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and surrounding Indonesian islands. Resident in forest, cultivated land, and villages. Nests in rock crevices.
Diet & Feeding
Entirely aerial diet of tiny insects and spiders; forages in large flocks over open country and forest edges.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: HC.
Clutch Size
2
Sound
Song
Soft, rapid twittering; thin 'tsit-tsit' over Javan forests; audible echolocation clicks inside caves; colonial; produces squeaky chattering at roost sites; calls weakly in flight
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Collocalia |
| Species | Collocalia linchi |
Distribution
Cave Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family