Collocalia sumbawae
The Tenggara Swiftlet (*Collocalia sumbawae*) is a small, agile aerial insectivore endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Measuring approximately 11-13 cm in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams, this swiftlet exhibits a uniformly dark sooty-brown plumage across its upperparts, subtly fading to a paler greyish-brown on its underparts. Its primary field marks include its sleek, torpedo-shaped body, long, narrow, pointed wings built for continuous flight, and a short, slightly fork...
This swiftlet primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, often ranging into montane areas up to 1,200 meters, with a strong reliance on limestone cliffs and deep caves for roosting and nesting.
Their diet consists exclusively of aerial insects, including beetles, flies, ants, and moths, captured on the wing during continuous foraging flights.
Tenggara Swiftlets are highly diurnal, spending the vast majority of their daylight hours in continuous, rapid flight, foraging for insects. They are exceptionally colonial, forming large, dense aggregations within deep, dark limestone caves for communal roosting and breeding. Their foraging stra...
The Tenggara Swiftlet is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands archipelago in Indonesia, where it is found across a number of islands. Its primary distribution includes Sumbawa, Flores, Komodo, Rinca, Sumba, Savu, Timor, Alor, Wetar, and potentially other smaller surrounding islands. There are two ...
Least Concern
- The Tenggara Swiftlet is one of a select few bird species capable of echolocation, emitting audible clicks to navigate in complete darkness within its cave habitats. - Its nests are predominantly constructed from solidified saliva, a unique protein-rich material that hardens upon exposure to ai...