Aerodramus vanikorensis
The Uniform Swiftlet (*Aerodramus vanikorensis*) is a small, sleek aerial insectivore, typically measuring 11-13 cm in length with a wingspan of about 28 cm. Its plumage is uniformly sooty-brown to dark grey-brown across its entire body, including the rump, which is a key distinguishing feature from many other swiftlet species that exhibit a pale rump patch. This uniform coloration, coupled with its long, slender wings and short, square or slightly forked tail, makes it a master of sustained,...
This swiftlet predominantly inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, often associating with coastal areas, limestone cliffs, and caves for roosting and nesting. It is found from sea level up to moderate elevations, typically below 2,000 meters.
Uniform Swiftlets are obligate aerial insectivores, feeding exclusively on a wide variety of flying insects including beetles, flies, moths, ants, and termites, which they capture on the wing.
Uniform Swiftlets are highly social and primarily diurnal, spending their days continuously foraging for insects on the wing, returning to communal roosts in dark caves or under overhanging cliffs at dusk. Their foraging strategy involves acrobatic aerial hawking, often in large, swirling flocks ...
The Uniform Swiftlet boasts an incredibly extensive and fragmented geographic distribution, acting as a resident species across its entire range. It is found throughout much of Southeast Asia, stretching from the Malay Peninsula (rarely) and the Philippines eastward through Wallacea (including Su...
Least Concern
- The Uniform Swiftlet navigates absolute darkness in caves using echolocation, emitting audible clicks (typically 4-10 kHz) to construct a sonic map of its surroundings, a rare avian adaptation. - Their nests are often constructed from their own hardened saliva mixed with fibrous plant material ...