Photo: wokoti / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Swifts

Black-nest Swiftlet

Aerodramus maximus

Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) — Swifts of South & Southeast Asia.

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Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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Birds of Indonesia Birds of Malaysia Birds of Thailand

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Swifts of Indonesia Swifts of Malaysia Swifts of Thailand

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The Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) is a member of the Apodidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae Swifts
Genus Aerodramus
Species maximus

Where it lives

Malay Pen. and Greater Sundas

South & Southeast Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 17 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Apodidae
Order: Apodiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black-nest Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Black-nest Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) belongs to the Apodidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen. and Greater Sundas.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 1.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Black-nest Swiftlet — Song

Recorded by Arnold Meijer Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 2.5

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black-nest Swiftlet?

The Black-nest Swiftlet is a small bird that weighs around 17 g.

Where does the Black-nest Swiftlet live?

The Black-nest Swiftlet is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen. and Greater Sundas, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Black-nest Swiftlet belong to?

The Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Black-nest Swiftlet eat?

The Black-nest Swiftlet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Black-nest Swiftlet migrate?

The Black-nest Swiftlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Black-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.

What sound does the Black-nest Swiftlet make?

1 real field recording of the Black-nest Swiftlet — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black-nest Swiftlet's range?

The Black-nest Swiftlet has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².