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Edible-nest Swiftlet

Nightjars, Frogmouths & Swifts

Photo: Adrien Jailloux (iNaturalist) · CC BY 4.0

Aerodramus fuciphagus

Basic stats

Diet

Flying insects caught on the wing

Habitat

From coastal areas to mountains, up to 2,800m on Sumatra and Borneo

Range

Southeast Asia

Clutch size

2 white, oval, non-glossy eggs

Size

About 14cm

Weight

15–18g

The edible-nest swiftlet, or white-nest swiftlet, is a small swift of Southeast Asia, about 14 cm long and 15–18 g. The upperparts of the slender body are blackish brown and the underparts range from white to blackish brown, with a short, slightly notched tail and black bill and feet. In flight the swept-back wings look like a crescent. Its nest is white and translucent, made of layers of hardened saliva attached to rock, about 6 cm across and 14 g in weight (Wikipedia, general species account).

The nest is the main ingredient of bird's nest soup, a delicacy of Chinese cuisine. The swiftlet feeds over a range of habitats from coasts to mountains, occurring up to 2,800 m above sea level on Sumatra and Borneo, and its diet is flying insects caught on the wing. Two white eggs are laid.

Quick answers

What does the Edible-nest Swiftlet eat?
Flying insects caught on the wing
What habitat does the Edible-nest Swiftlet live in?
From coastal areas to mountains, up to 2,800m on Sumatra and Borneo
Where is the Edible-nest Swiftlet found?
Southeast Asia
How many eggs does the Edible-nest Swiftlet lay?
2 white, oval, non-glossy eggs
How big is the Edible-nest Swiftlet?
About 14cm
How much does the Edible-nest Swiftlet weigh?
15–18g
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