Aerodramus unicolor
The Indian Swiftlet, *Aerodramus unicolor*, is a small, agile aerial insectivore native to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length with a slender build and long, pointed wings, its plumage is a rather uniform dusky grey-brown above, transitioning to slightly paler greyish-brown underparts, notably lacking any distinctive pale rump patch that characterizes some swiftlet relatives. This absence of a pale rump is a key identification feature in the field...
Primarily found in evergreen and deciduous forests, open country, and coastal areas, particularly near cliff faces and limestone caves. Occurs from lowlands up to elevations of around 2,200 meters.
Feeds exclusively on a wide variety of aerial insects, including beetles, flies, ants, and hymenoptera, captured on the wing during continuous flight.
Indian Swiftlets are highly social and diurnal, engaging in continuous aerial foraging during the day and returning to colonial roosts and nest sites within dark caves at night. They exhibit remarkable echolocation abilities, emitting audible clicks (around 4.5–8 kHz) to navigate effortlessly in ...
The Indian Swiftlet is a resident species primarily distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Its main breeding range encompasses the Western Ghats and parts of the Eastern Ghats in Peninsular India, extending northward into the foothills of the Himalayas. Significant populations ...
Least Concern
- The Indian Swiftlet is one of the few bird species globally capable of echolocation, using audible clicks to navigate in the absolute darkness of caves where they roost and nest. - Its nests are entirely constructed from solidified salivary secretions, a unique biological cement, often leading ...