Swiftlet Species

Swifts have long, pointed backswept wings and either short and squarish or long and pointed tails, and tiny legs. They rarely perch in trees but usually rest by clinging to cliffs with their sharp claws. They nest in caves, hollow trees, and under house roofs in cup-shaped nests made of mud or, in some species, saliva.

They feed on the wing using their wide mouth to catch insects. Some of the cave-nesting swiftlets use a form of sonar echolocation with clicking calls to find their way in the dark.

There are many different species of Rain Swiftlets in the world but only a small portion of them build nests which are edible. There are only three types of swiftlets which build edible bird's nests.

 

Edible Nest Swiftlet Collocalia Fuciphaga

This type of rain swiftlet is characterized by its brownish grey feathers, dark brown eyes and black beak and feet. They measure 10-12 cm long, their wings are long and sharp, their tails are short and slightly forked. They have weak feet and all four of their claws face forward, thus making it difficult for them to walk or stand. Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets use their feet to hook themselves when resting and sleeping after attaining adulthood, just like bats and they do not live in nests. Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets use echolocation in dark caves with a loud 'rattle call'.

The purpose of Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets building nests is in anticipation of the arrival of their youngs. When the nesting season is near, they begin to grow in size and secretion of saliva increases to be used as raw material in building their nests. Collocalia Fuciphaga build their nests three times annually and lays two eggs which are oval in shape and white in colour each time. From the construction of their nests [approximately 45-50 days], egg production [approximately 7-10 days], hatching [approximately 15 days], emergence of nestlings, feeding to independent flight [45-50 days], the whole process take about 110-120 days.

Each nest is used once only, and harvesting of bird's nests is done only after the swiftlet nestlings have grown up, able to fly and left the nests. The average lifespan of Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlet is approximately 15-20 years and each pair of swiftlets can produce 45-60 nests in its lifetime.

Whether they are cave swiftlets or house swiftlets, they search for food in the morning and return to their nests by night. That is why even Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets in houses are wild swiftlets. Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets are natural enemies of insects. Their ability to catch insects is very much above other birds and animals. They often feed around tall forest trees such as fruiting figs which attract fig wasps; bath and drink over fresh water by dipping down with a splash.

Collocalia Fuciphaga swiftlets normally breed in coastal rock crevices or deep in limestone caves. Their nests are made entirely of hardened saliva and are the valued white bird’s nests which are collected for sale to make bird’s nest soup.

 

Black Nest Swiftlet Collacalia Maxima

Their scientific name is Aerodomux Maxima. The nest is made of white, cemented saliva mixed with feathers in lime-stone caves. These are the so-called 'black nests' which are harvested for sale but are of less value than the cleaner 'white nests' because more labour is needed to remove feathers and grubs.

Collocalia Maxima are larger in size compared with Collocalia Fuciphaga and they measure approximately 11-13 cm long. Legs are well feathered and the tail is rather square-cut. Birds give echolocation 'rattle' call.

 

Giant Swiftlet Hydrochous Gigas

They are larger in size compared to Collocalia Fuciphaga and Collacalia Maxima and measure approximately 16 cm long with sooty black upperparts, dark rump, and dark brown underparts. The tail is split, slightly forked. Tends to fly higher and faster than other swiftlets. Does not use echolocation.

Hydrochous Gigas swiftlets nest under waterfalls and in rock crevices. They generally live over forests, in hilly and mountainous terrain and by the sea especially in Indonesia and the Sulu Sea in the south of the Philippines.

Hydrochous Gigas swiftlets produce lots of saliva and they combine this saliva with fine straws, roots, moss and other fibres to make their nests, resulting in high levels of impurities.

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