Aerodramus mearnsi
The Philippine Swiftlet, Aerodramus mearnsi, is a small, enigmatic aerial insectivore endemic to the Philippine archipelago. Averaging 10-12 cm in length, this swiftlet exhibits a sleek, aerodynamic form, cloaked in a uniform sooty-brown plumage that is slightly paler on its underparts, lacking the distinct white rump seen in some congeners. Its long, pointed wings and moderately forked tail are characteristic of its high-speed, acrobatic flight. As a member of the Apodidae family, it shares ...
Primarily inhabits montane and submontane forests at elevations typically between 1,000 and 2,500 meters, utilizing dark caves for communal roosting and nesting.
Exclusively aerial insectivores, feeding on a diverse range of flying insects including beetles, moths, ants, and flies, all expertly captured on the wing.
Philippine Swiftlets are highly aerial and crepuscular, often observed in dynamic foraging flights at dawn and dusk, though they remain active during daylight hours from their cave roosts. They are adept at hawking flying insects, performing intricate maneuvers high above the forest canopy. These...
Endemic to the Philippines, the Philippine Swiftlet is widely distributed across the major islands of the archipelago, including Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, Mindoro, Panay, Negros, and several smaller islands. This species predominantly inhabits montane and submontane forest environments, where it ...
Least Concern
- The Philippine Swiftlet is one of the few bird species worldwide known to use echolocation, emitting audible clicks to navigate the pitch-black interiors of caves. - Its unique cave-dwelling habit allows it to share roosts with thousands of conspecifics and even various bat species, fostering a...