Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Indian Swiftlet
Nightjars, Frogmouths & Swifts
Photo: sunnyjosef · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Aerodramus unicolor
Basic stats
Habitat
Colonial nester on vertical surfaces, often in caves
Range
Hills of Sri Lanka and southwest India
Clutch size
2 eggs
Size
12cm
The Indian swiftlet, or Indian edible-nest swiftlet, is a small swift, about 12 cm long, mainly dark brown above and paler below, with swept-back wings and a short, only slightly notched tail. It is a common resident colonial breeder in the hills of Sri Lanka and southwest India. The sexes and young look alike (Wikipedia, species account).
The half-cup nest is built on a vertical surface, often in a cave, from thick saliva; it is white and shiny and holds two eggs. The nests are harvested for bird's nest soup. Like other swifts it spends most of its life in the air, catching insects and drinking on the wing. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012, listed as Collocalia unicolor).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Indian Swiftlet live in?
- Colonial nester on vertical surfaces, often in caves
- Where is the Indian Swiftlet found?
- Hills of Sri Lanka and southwest India
- How many eggs does the Indian Swiftlet lay?
- 2 eggs
- How big is the Indian Swiftlet?
- 12cm