Philippine Glossy Swiftlet
Collocalia marginata
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<birdfyi-bird slug="collocalia-marginata"></birdfyi-bird>About
A small swiftlet (9-10 cm) endemic to the Philippines. Glossy dark plumage with pale fringes on wing feathers. Aerial insectivore, foraging over forest canopy and clearings. Colonial nester in caves. Found across most major Philippine islands.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.2 g | 0.25 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Tiny; glossy greenish-black upperparts; white-buff rump patch; dark sooty underparts; deeply forked tail; endemic to Philippine islands; the blue-green iridescence on the back is more pronounced than in drabber Collocalia species.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Endemic to the Philippines, found on most major islands. Resident in lowland and hill forest and open areas up to 1,500 m elevation.
Diet & Feeding
Tiny aerial insectivore taking small flying insects and spiders; congregates where insects emerge over water.
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CP.
Sound
Song
Very high thin twittering; 'tsit-tsit' in flight; echolocation clicks in cave roosts; extremely small; call barely audible to human ear; rapid chittering over Philippine forest
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts) |
| Family | Apodidae (Swifts) |
| Genus | Collocalia |
| Species | Collocalia marginata |
Distribution
Philippine Glossy Swiftlet has been recorded in 1 countries.
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External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet eat?
Where does the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet live?
How does the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet nest?
What does the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet sound like?
How big is the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet?
What order and family does the Philippine Glossy Swiftlet belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Apodidae family