Photo: Bernard Dupont / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mossy-nest Swiftlet
Aerodramus salangana
Mossy-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus salangana) — Swifts of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus salangana) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 11.3 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 salangana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus salangana) belongs to the Apodidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.3 g, with a wing length of about 11.4 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 483,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mossy-nest Swiftlet?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is a very small bird that weighs around 11.3 g.
Where does the Mossy-nest Swiftlet live?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Sumatra, Java and Borneo, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Mossy-nest Swiftlet belong to?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus salangana) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Mossy-nest Swiftlet eat?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mossy-nest Swiftlet migrate?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mossy-nest 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.
How large is the Mossy-nest Swiftlet's range?
The Mossy-nest Swiftlet has a mapped global range of about 483,000 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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