Photo: TonyCastro / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian Swiftlet
Aerodramus terraereginae
Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) — Swifts of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 12 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Aerodramus
- Species terraereginae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Australian Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU ne Australia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 11.1 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 86,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Swiftlet?
The Australian Swiftlet is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the Australian Swiftlet live?
The Australian Swiftlet is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU ne Australia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Australian Swiftlet belong to?
The Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Australian Swiftlet eat?
The Australian Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Australian Swiftlet migrate?
The Australian Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian Swiftlet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Australian Swiftlet make?
1 real field recording of the Australian Swiftlet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Australian Swiftlet's range?
The Australian Swiftlet has a mapped global range of about 86,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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