Wildlifeof Thailand
Edible-nest Swiftlet
Apodidae
Photo: Adrien Jailloux (iNaturalist) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Aerodramus fuciphagus
Basic stats
Diet
Flying insects
Habitat
Coasts, forest and caves
Range
Southeast Asia
Size
11–12cm
The edible-nest swiftlet is a small brown-black swiftlet with long narrow wings and a slightly forked tail. It forages in flocks over coasts and forest throughout Southeast Asia, catching tiny flying insects. Colonies breed in dark caves or specially managed buildings and navigate near nests using simple echolocation clicks. Their nests are made almost entirely from hardened saliva and are collected for food (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Least Concern (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Edible-nest Swiftlet eat?
- Flying insects
- What habitat does the Edible-nest Swiftlet live in?
- Coasts, forest and caves
- Where is the Edible-nest Swiftlet found?
- Southeast Asia
- How big is the Edible-nest Swiftlet?
- 11–12cm