Collocalia isonota
The Ridgetop Swiftlet, Collocalia isonota, is a small, agile aerial insectivore endemic to the Philippines, epitomizing the family Apodidae's mastery of flight. Measuring approximately 11-12 centimeters in length and weighing a mere 8-12 grams, this swiftlet exhibits a uniform sooty brown plumage, slightly paler on the underparts, offering superb camouflage against the tropical sky. Its long, pointed wings and short, subtly forked tail contribute to its characteristic rapid, erratic flight pa...
The Ridgetop Swiftlet primarily inhabits montane and submontane forests, particularly along ridgetops and cliffs. It relies on caves for communal roosting and breeding, typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,000 meters.
This swiftlet is an obligate aerial insectivore, primarily feeding on a variety of small flying insects, including beetles, flies, ants, and termites. It captures its prey on the wing through continuous, agile flight.
Ridgetop Swiftlets are highly social and diurnal, spending the daylight hours in continuous, rapid flight foraging for insects, returning to communal caves for roosting at night. Their foraging strategy involves agile aerial hawking, often in large, mixed-species flocks with other swiftlets, demo...
The Ridgetop Swiftlet is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a resident species found across many of the major islands. Its primary distribution encompasses Luzon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Samar, Leyte, Mindanao, Basilan, Dinagat, Siquijor, and Bohol. While primarily associated with ...
Least Concern
- The Ridgetop Swiftlet is one of the few bird species globally, and the only one in the Philippines, capable of echolocation, emitting audible clicks to navigate in total darkness. - It builds its cup-shaped nest entirely from salivary secretions mixed with plant material like moss and lichens, ...