Germain's Swiflet
Aerodramus germani
Collocalia germani
Collocalia germani
Where is it found?
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Tropical forest, coastal areas and caves, urban areas.
Diet and foraging method
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Catches insects in flight.
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Key adaptations
They have narrow wings for fast flying and increased manoeuvrability to pursue their flying insect prey.
Hearing and calls are adapted to allow for navigation by echolocation in the dark caves they live in.
Hearing and calls are adapted to allow for navigation by echolocation in the dark caves they live in.
Social organisation and mating system
Form large flocks
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Pair up within flocks for monogamous breeding. Cooperative breeding occurs; other individuals with help a pair to rear their offspring.
Did you know that...?
Germain's Swiflets nests are made of saliva which dries to form a hard protective nest. They can stick their nests to rocks in caves, cliffs and even the side of buildings! Swiflet nests are commonly eaten in Asia as soup.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee" by Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore - Edible nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee.jpg#/media/File:AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee.jpg
"Ediblebirdsnest" by Reforma.imufomot - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ediblebirdsnest.jpeg#/media/File:Ediblebirdsnest.jpeg
"AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee" by Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore - Edible nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee.jpg#/media/File:AerodramusFuciphagus.LipKee.jpg
"Ediblebirdsnest" by Reforma.imufomot - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ediblebirdsnest.jpeg#/media/File:Ediblebirdsnest.jpeg
