Birds · Caprimulgiformes · Apodidae
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Aerodramus fuciphagus
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The edible-nest swiftlet is a small swift that nests in enormous colonies inside limestone caves, in total darkness. It builds its nest entirely from its own saliva, which hardens into a translucent cup fixed to the wall. Those nests are the ingredient of bird's nest soup, one of the most expensive foods in the world, and they support an industry worth billions of euros across South-East Asia.
Weight
10 g – 17 g
Size
11 cm – 12 cm
Life expectancy
18 years
