Aerodramus brevirostris
The Himalayan Swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris) is a master of aerial life, a medium-sized swift with a sleek, aerodynamic build perfectly suited for its insectivorous, high-flying existence. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of around 30-34 cm (12-13.4 inches), its plumage is predominantly sooty-brown to dark grey, often appearing black against the sky, with a slightly paler rump that can be a subtle but key field mark. Its tail is moderately forked...
Found primarily in mountainous regions, the Himalayan Swiftlet inhabits high-altitude broadleaf and coniferous forests, often near cliffs, ravines, and caves, from 900 to 4,500 meters (3,000-14,800 feet) in elevation.
The diet of the Himalayan Swiftlet consists almost exclusively of aerial insects, including beetles, flies, moths, and winged ants, captured skillfully on the wing.
Himalayan Swiftlets are highly social and gregarious, spending most of their daylight hours tirelessly hawking for insects high in the sky, only descending to roost and nest in the dark recesses of caves. Their foraging technique involves continuous, agile flight, often in large, swirling flocks,...
The Himalayan Swiftlet has a broad distribution across the Oriental biogeographic realm, primarily centered in the mountainous regions of Asia. Its breeding range spans the Himalayas, from northern India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Northeast states) and Nepal, through Bhutan, to Myanmar, sout...
Least Concern
- The Himalayan Swiftlet is one of the few bird species globally known to use echolocation, emitting clicks to navigate in the pitch-black darkness of caves where it roosts and nests. - Its nests are largely constructed from hardened saliva, a protein-rich substance that sets like glue, allowing ...