Uniform swiftlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uniform swiftlet |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aerodramus
|
| Species: |
vanikorensis
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The uniform swiftlet is a cool bird known by a few names, like the Vanikoro swiftlet or lowland swiftlet. Its scientific name is Aerodramus vanikorensis. This medium-sized bird loves to be with other swiftlets. It has a tail that looks like a shallow fork.
Uniform swiftlets are dark grey-brown. Their upper parts are darker, and their belly and throat are a bit lighter. You can find these birds across many islands, from the Philippines to New Guinea and Melanesia. They mostly fly around lowland forests and open spaces, catching insects to eat. These amazing birds build their nests in caves. They use a special skill called echolocation to find their way in the dark, just like bats! This is very rare for birds.
Contents
About the Uniform Swiftlet
The uniform swiftlet was first officially described in 1832. Two French naturalists, Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard, named it. They found a specimen of the bird on Vanikoro island in the Solomon Islands.
Today, this swiftlet belongs to a group of birds called Aerodramus. There are many different types, or subspecies, of the uniform swiftlet. They live in various places across its wide range.
What Does a Uniform Swiftlet Look Like?
The uniform swiftlet is a medium-sized bird that likes to live in groups. It is about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. Its wings can spread out to about 27 centimeters (10.6 inches). Each bird weighs around 11 grams, which is very light!
Their feathers are dark grey-brown. The top of their body is darker than their belly and throat. It can be a bit tricky to tell them apart from other swiftlets, like the white-rumped swiftlet.
Where Do Uniform Swiftlets Live?
These swiftlets are found in many places. Their home stretches from the Philippines through Wallacea, New Guinea, and Melanesia. Sometimes, a few might even fly as far as Australia, but that's quite rare.
Uniform swiftlets love to fly over lowland forests and open areas. When it's time to rest, they go into caves or big holes in the ground. These caves are often in areas with limestone rock. Some caves are small, about 10 meters long. But most are much bigger! They might even use tunnels or buildings made by people.
Uniform Swiftlet Behavior
What Do Uniform Swiftlets Eat?
These birds are insect eaters! They catch flying insects, especially ants, right out of the air.
Reproduction and Nests
Uniform swiftlets build their nests together in colonies inside caves. They use their echolocation to find their way in the dark caves. Their nests are like shallow cups. They are made from mossy stuff and the bird's own saliva. The swiftlets usually stick their nests to the side of a cave wall where it's completely dark.
For example, on Guam, they use a plant called Neckeropsis lepiniana for their nests. In Hawaii, they use a type of liverwort plant. A mother swiftlet usually lays one or two white eggs. The eggs hatch after at least twelve days. The young birds are ready to fly about thirty-five days after they hatch.
Conservation Status
The uniform swiftlet lives in a very large area. There are many of them in most places they live. Scientists haven't counted all of them, but they believe the number of swiftlets is staying steady. These birds don't face any big dangers right now. Because of this, experts have listed the uniform swiftlet as a species of "Least Concern". This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
