Birds · Caprimulgiformes · Apodidae

Edible-nest Swiftlet

Aerodramus fuciphagus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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

Lifespan

18 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

Its nest, made only of hardened saliva, is one of the most expensive animal products in the world: a kilo can fetch more than 2,000 euros, and it has been eaten in China for more than four centuries.
It navigates inside the caves by echolocation, like a bat, with clicks audible to the human ear: it is one of the very few birds in the world able to do so.
Demand has created a bird-house industry: buildings put up expressly to attract colonies, which now produce most of the nests traded and have reduced the pressure on natural caves.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Limestone caves and buildings of South-East Asia; it hunts insects over forests and coasts
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 23 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerodramus_fuciphagus