Cave swiftlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave swiftlet |
|
|---|---|
_1.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Apodidae |
| Genus: | Collocalia |
| Species: |
C. linchi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Collocalia linchi Horsfield & Moore, F, 1854
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The cave swiftlet (also called the linchi swiftlet) is a small bird that belongs to the swift family, Apodidae. Swifts are known for their amazing flying skills! You can find the cave swiftlet on islands in Indonesia like Sumatra, Java, and Bali. These birds love woodlands and build their nests inside caves. The Bornean swiftlet used to be thought of as the same kind of bird, but now scientists usually see it as a different species.
Contents
Meet the Cave Swiftlet: What's in a Name?
The cave swiftlet got its scientific name, Collocalia linchi, from two naturalists, Thomas Horsfield and Frederic Moore, way back in 1854. The word linchi comes from the Javanese word for a swiftlet. It's cool how their name tells us a bit about where they live!
Scientists have found four different types, or subspecies, of the cave swiftlet:
- C. l. dedii: Found on the islands of Bali and Lombok.
- C. l. linchi: Lives on Bawean island and Java.
- C. l. ripleyi: Found in the Barisan Mountains on Sumatra.
- C. l. dodgei: Lives on Mount Kinabalu in northern Borneo.
How to Spot a Cave Swiftlet: Appearance and Sounds
This swiftlet looks shiny blackish-brown on its back, almost like it has a greenish glow. Its chest is black, but its belly and sides are a pale grey with tiny black spots. Its wing tips are rounded, and the underside of its wings is black.
The tail is black and rounded, with a small dip in the middle. It doesn't have the white spots you might see on the very similar glossy swiftlet. A cool way to tell them apart is that the glossy swiftlet has a small tuft of feathers on its back toe, but the cave swiftlet has a bare toe! These birds are quite small, measuring about 9 to 11.5 centimeters (about 3.5 to 4.5 inches) long. When they call out, it sounds like a high-pitched "cheer-cheer."
Where Do Cave Swiftlets Live? Habitat and Range
The cave swiftlet calls Malaysia and Indonesia home. You can find them in many places across the Sundaic region. This includes islands like Java, Madura Island, Bawean, Kangean Island, Nusa Penida, Bali, and Lombok. They also live in parts of Sumatra and on the western slopes of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo. These birds prefer to live in lowland and upland forests, as well as open woodlands.
Cave Swiftlet Behavior: Flying and Nesting
Cave swiftlets love to hang out with other swift species. They often fly together in large groups. You might see them circling and zipping through the branches of tall trees, especially around fig trees that are full of fruit.
When it's time to have babies, they build their nests in the brighter parts of caves. They use stringy plants and stick them to the rock walls with their own saliva. Female swiftlets usually lay two white, somewhat long eggs.
Status of the Cave Swiftlet: Are They Safe?
The cave swiftlet lives across a very large area and is quite common, especially on Java and nearby islands. Scientists don't see any major threats to this bird right now. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed it as a species of "Least Concern". This means they are not currently worried about it becoming endangered. Even though their total numbers might be going down a little, it's not happening fast enough to be a big problem.
 | James Van Der Zee |
 | Alma Thomas |
 | Ellis Wilson |
 | Margaret Taylor-Burroughs |
