Editing Swiftlet

{{short description|Tribe of birds in the swift family}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Swiftlets
| image = AerodramusMaximus.Wokoti.jpg
| image_caption = [[Black-nest swiftlet]]
| taxon = Collocaliini
| authority =
| subdivision_ranks = [[Genera]]
| subdivision = 
*''[[Aerodramus]]''
*''[[Collocalia]]''
*''[[Hydrochous]]''
*''[[Schoutedenapus]]''
}}

'''Swiftlets''' are [[bird]]s from the four [[genera]] ''[[Aerodramus]]'', ''[[Collocalia]]'', ''[[Hydrochous]]'' and ''[[Schoutedenapus]]'', which form the [[tribe (biology)|tribe]] '''Collocaliini''' within the [[swift (bird)|swift]] [[family (biology)|family]] [[Apodidae]]. The group contains around thirty [[species]] mostly confined to southern [[Asia]], south [[Pacific]] islands, and northeastern [[Australia]], all within the [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] regions. They are in many respects typical members of the Apodidae, having narrow [[wing]]s for fast flight, with a wide gape and small reduced [[beak]] surrounded by [[bristle]]s for catching insects in flight. What distinguishes many but not all species from other swifts and indeed almost all other birds<ref>The [[oilbird]] is a notable exception. The presence of echolocation was formerly used to argue for a close relationship of the Apodiformes and the oilbird, but the actual situation is more complicated. ''See also'': [[Caprimulgiformes]].</ref> is their ability to use a simple but effective form of [[animal echolocation|echolocation]] to navigate in total darkness through the chasms and shafts of the [[cave]]s where they roost at night and breed.

The nests of some species are built entirely from solidified threads of their [[saliva]], which are edible and thus collected for human consumption as the famous [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] [[delicacy]], the [[bird's nest soup]].

== Description and ecology ==
The swift family remains one of the more complicated groups of birds in [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] research, but the swiftlet tribe is a rather well-defined group. Its internal [[systematics]] is confusing; the plumage is usually dull, with shades of black, brown, and gray; from their outward appearance, most species are very similar. Swiftlets have four toes, except the [[Papuan swiftlet]] which lacks the [[hallux]] (back toe). Their legs are very short, preventing the birds from perching, but allowing them to cling to vertical surfaces. Flight is mainly gliding due to very long [[flight feather|primary feathers]] and small breast muscles.  The larger ''Aerodramus'' swiftlets weigh about 14 grams and are 10&nbsp;cm long.

Swiftlets are insectivores; [[hymenoptera]]ns and [[diptera]]ns being the most abundant prey.<ref name=Lourie/> Typically, they leave the cave during the day to forage and return to their roost at night. Males and females look similar; as usual in such cases, these birds are monogamous and both partners take part in caring for the nestlings.  Males perform aerial displays to attract females and mating occurs at the nest.  The breeding season overlaps the wet season, which corresponds to an increased insect population. Clutch size depends on the location and the food source, but it is generally not large; ''Aerodramus'' swiftlets lay 1 to 2 eggs.  The eggs are a dull white color and are laid every other day. Many if not all species are [[Bird colony|colonial]] nesters; some build their nests in high, dark corners on cave walls.  Swiftlets in temperate zones do migrate, but most ''Aerodramus'' swiftlets live in the tropical [[Indo-Pacific]] region and do not migrate.  These birds usually remain in one cave or other roosting/nesting site.  Some examples of caves include the Niah Caves at Niah National Park & [[Gunung Mulu National Park]] which are all located in [[Sarawak]], [[Malaysia]]n [[Borneo]].

The genus ''Aerodramus'' is of special interest due to its use of [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]] and its intricately constructed [[saliva]] nests which in some species contain no other material such as feathers, moss or twigs and are collected, selling at extremely high prices (see [[Bird's nest soup]]). It has been argued that the high demand for these nests could have had an adverse effect on their populations,<ref name=Hobbs/><ref name=Marcone/> but other authorities<ref name=Jordan/> have shown that modern techniques of nest farming have increased the bird population.

The use of echolocation was once used to separate ''Aerodramus'' from the non-echolocating genera ''Collocalia'' and ''Hydrochous'' (virtually nothing is known about ''Schoutedenapus'').  But recently, the [[pygmy swiftlet]] ''Collocalia troglodytes'' was discovered making similar clicking noises in and outside its cave.<ref name=Price2004/> Characteristics of behavior, such as what materials other than saliva the nests contain, can be used to differentiate between certain species of ''Aerodramus''.<ref name=Lee/>

== Echolocation ==
The genus ''Aerodramus'' was thought to be the only echolocating swiftlets.  These birds use echolocation to locate their roost in dark caves.  Unlike a bat's echolocation, ''Aerodramus'' swiftlets make clicking noises that are well within the human range of hearing.  The clicks consist of two broad band pulses (3–10 [[kHz]]) separated by a slight pause (1–3 [[millisecond]]s).  The interpulse periods (IPPs) are varied depending on the level of light; in darker situations the bird emits shorter IPPs, as obstacles become harder to see, and longer IPPs are observed when the bird nears the exit of the cave.  This behavior is similar to that of bats as they approach targets.  The birds also emit a series of low clicks followed by a call when approaching the nests; presumably to warn nearby birds out of their way. <!-- "The frequency of clicks does not aid in echolocation but rather the bird gathers temporal information about its surroundings." This makes no sense, or does it? -->It is thought that the double clicks are used to discriminate between individual birds.  ''Aerodramus sawtelli'', the [[Atiu swiftlet]], and ''Aerodramus maximus'', the [[black-nest swiftlet]] are the only known species which emit single clicks.  The single click is thought be used to avoid voice overlap during echolocation.  The use of a single click might be associated with an evolutionary shift in eastern Pacific swiftlets; determining how many clicks the [[Marquesan swiftlet]] emits could shed light on this.  It was also discovered that both the Atiu swiftlet<ref name=Fullard/> and the [[Papuan swiftlet]]<ref name=Price2005/> emit clicks while foraging outside at dusk; the latter possibly only in these circumstances, considering that it might not nest in caves at all. Such behavior is not known to occur in other species,<ref name=Fullard/> but quite possibly does, given that the Papuan and Atiu swiftlets are not closely related. However, it has recently been determined that the echolocation vocalizations do not agree with evolutionary relationship between swiftlet species as suggested by [[DNA]] sequence comparison.<ref name=Thomassen2006/> This suggests that as in [[bat]]s, echolocation sounds, once present, adapt rapidly and independently to the particular species' acoustic environment.

Three hypotheses are considered to describe how echolocation evolved in the genus ''Aerodramus'' and, as determined more recently, other taxa in the Apodidae.  One hypothesis states that echolocation evolved from an ancestral species of swiftlets and was lost in the genera which lack echolocation.  A second hypothesis is that echolocation evolved independently several times.  The third scenario involves a combination of the first two, i.e. a gain-loss-regain scenario.

Several functional subunits (like vocal muscles and brain areas) are needed to produce the echolocating system.  Past studies have thought that the loss of one of these subunits was more likely to occur than acquiring all the traits needed to echolocate. Yet a recent study suggests that the echolocation subunits were mainly located in the [[central nervous system]], while the subunits in the vocal apparatus were already present and capable of use before echolocation even evolved.  This study supports the second hypothesis of independent evolution of echolocation in ''Aerodramus'' and ''Collocalia'', with the subsequent evolution of complex behavior needed to complement the physical echolocation system, or even the third approach, as the vocal apparatus-parts of the echolocation system might even be inherited from some [[prehistoric]] [[nocturnal]] ancestor.<ref name=Thomassen2005/>

== Culinary use ==
{{main|Bird's nest soup}}

Authentic bird's-nest soup is made from nests of some species of swiftlet, mainly the [[Edible-nest swiftlet|edible-nest]] (or white-nest) swiftlet (''Aerodramus fuciphagus'') and the black-nest swiftlet. Instead of twigs, feathers and straw, these swiftlets make their nest only from strands of their gummy saliva, which hardens when exposed to air. Once the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and sold to restaurants. Eating swiftlet nest material is believed to help maintain skin tone, balance ''[[qi]]'' ("life energy") and reinforce the [[immune system]].<ref name="investvine">{{cite web|url=http://investvine.com/vietnam-seeks-investors-for-edible-birds-nest-industry/|title=Vietnam seeks investors for edible bird's nest industry|first=Arno|last=Maierbrugger|work=Inside Investor|date=20 August 2013|accessdate=20 August 2013}}</ref> It is also believed to strengthen the lungs and prevent coughs{{citation needed|reason=Needs citation|date=September 2016}}, improve the constitution and prolong life{{citation needed|reason=Definitely needs citation|date=September 2016}}. The nutritional value of 100&nbsp;g of dry nest includes 49.9&nbsp;g of water-soluble protein (including amido nitrogen, monoamine nitrogen, non-amino nitrogen, arginine, humin, histidine, lysine and cysteine), 30.6&nbsp;g carbohydrate (glycoprotein and mucin), 4.9&nbsp;g iron, 2.5&nbsp;g inorganic salt (including potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, silica and other trace elements), and 1.4&nbsp;g fiber (Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The History of Chinese Medicine and the Nutrition Table).

The energy contained in 100&nbsp;g of swiftlet nest is 345&nbsp;[[Calorie|kcal]].  The nests are often served simmered in [[chicken]] broth.

Authentic bird's-nest soup is quite popular throughout Asia. It is also extremely expensive; many western restaurants serve a less expensive version consisting of soup with noodles shaped to resemble a bird's nest.

== Cave ecology ==
[[Guano]] from both the swiftlets and the many bats that inhabit the caves supports a huge array of specialized animals that feed on the dung. There are yet other creatures that have evolved to feed on these dung eaters as well as on the bats and the swiftlets themselves, including [[snake]]s that can climb the sheer walls to snatch a passing meal and huge carnivorous [[Cricket (insect)|crickets]] that prey on chicks and bat pups. This cave fauna [[ecosystem]] is self-sustaining, the only link with the outside being the birds and the bats that bring the nutrients into the caves in the first place.

The [[Philippines|Philippine]] [[municipality]] of [[El Nido, Palawan|El Nido]] in [[Palawan]], known for its [[limestone]] [[cliffs]] and pristine [[beaches]], is home to a thriving bird's-nest market. The name [[El Nido, Palawan|El Nido]] is the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] term for literally "The Nest". Many locals still practice manual climbing of the limestone caves to gather swiftlet nests.

== Species ==
The [[Papuan swiftlet]] is apparently closer to the [[waterfall swift]] than to the other ''Aerodramus'' species and probably best placed in a separate genus,<ref name=Price2005/> whereas Thomassen ''et al.'' (2005) advocate reuniting all swiftlets in ''Collocalia''.<ref name=Thomassen2005/> ''Schoutedenapus'' is one of the least-known genera of birds.

*Genus ''[[Collocalia]]''
** [[Plume-toed swiftlet]], ''Collocalia affinis''
** [[Grey-rumped swiftlet]], ''Collocalia marginata''
** [[Ridgetop swiftlet]], ''Collocalia isonota''
** [[Tenggara swiftlet]], ''Collocalia sumbawae''
** [[Drab swiftlet]], ''Collocalia neglecta''
** [[Glossy swiftlet]], ''Collocalia esculenta''
** [[Satin swiftlet]], ''Collocalia uropygialis''
** [[Bornean swiftlet]], ''Collocalia dodgei''
** [[Cave swiftlet]], ''Collocalia linchi''
** [[Christmas Island swiftlet]], ''Collocalia natalis''
** [[Pygmy swiftlet]], ''Collocalia troglodytes''
*Genus ''[[Aerodramus]]''
** [[Seychelles swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus elaphrus''
** [[Mascarene swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus francicus''
** [[Indian swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus unicolor''
** [[Philippine swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus mearnsi''
** [[Moluccan swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus infuscatus''
** [[Mountain swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus hirundinaceus''
** [[White-rumped swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus spodiopygius''
** [[Australian swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus terraereginae''
** [[Himalayan swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus brevirostris''
** [[Indochinese swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus rogersi''
** [[Volcano swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus vulcanorum''
** [[Whitehead's swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus whiteheadi''
** [[Bare-legged swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus nuditarsus''
** [[Mayr's swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus orientalis''
** [[Palawan swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus palawanensis''
** [[Mossy-nest swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus salangana''
** [[Uniform swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus vanikorensis''
** [[Palau swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus pelewensis''
** [[Guam swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus bartschi''
** [[Caroline Islands swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus inquietus''
** [[Mangaia swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus manuoi'' ([[Late Quaternary prehistoric birds|prehistoric]])
** [[Atiu swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus sawtelli''
** [[Polynesian swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus leucophaeus''
** [[Marquesan swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus ocistus''
** [[Black-nest swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus maximus''
** [[Edible-nest swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus fuciphagus''
*** [[Brown-rumped swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus (fuciphagus) vestitus''
** [[German's swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus germani''
** [[Papuan swiftlet]], ''Aerodramus papuensis'' – probably a distinct genus
*Genus ''[[Hydrochous]]''
** [[Giant swiftlet]], ''Hydrochous gigas''
*Genus ''[[Schoutedenapus]]''
** [[Scarce swift]], ''Schoutedenapus myoptilus''

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=Fullard>{{cite journal | doi=10.2307/2388791 |jstor=2388791 |title=Echolocation in free-flying Atiu Swiftlets (''Aerodramus sawtelli'') |journal=Biotropica |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=334–339 |year=1993 |last1=Fullard |first1=James H. |last2=Barclay |first2=Robert M. R. |last3=Thomas |first3=Donald W. |bibcode=1993Biotr..25..334F }}</ref>
<ref name=Hobbs>{{cite journal|doi=10.1023/B:BIOC.0000047905.79709.7f|title=Problems in the harvest of edible birds' nests in Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo | journal=Biodiversity and Conservation|volume=13|issue=12|pages=2209–2226 |year=2004 |last1=Hobbs|first1=Joseph J.|bibcode=2004BiCon..13.2209H |s2cid=34483704 }}</ref>
<ref name=Jordan>Jordan, David. (2004): [http://jordanresearch.co.uk/pubs.html Globalisation and Bird's Nest Soup] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021051925/http://jordanresearch.co.uk/pubs.html |date=2008-10-21 }}</ref>
<ref name=Lee>{{cite journal|pmc=38941|year=1996|last1=Lee|first1=P. L.|title=Does behavior reflect phylogeny in swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae)? A test using cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA sequences | journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume=93 | issue=14 | pages=7091–7096|last2=Clayton|first2=D. H.|last3=Griffiths|first3=R. |last4=Page|first4=R. D. | pmid=8692950 | doi=10.1073/pnas.93.14.7091|bibcode=1996PNAS...93.7091L|doi-access=free}}</ref>
<ref name=Lourie>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1474-919X.2000.tb04459.x|title=The diets of Malaysian swiftlets|journal=Ibis|volume=142|issue=4|pages=596–602|year=2008|last1=Lourie|first1=Sara A.|last2=Tompkins|first2=Daniel M.}}</ref>
<ref name=Marcone>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.foodres.2005.02.008|title=Characterization of the edible bird's nest the "Caviar of the East"|journal=Food Research International|volume=38|issue=10|pages=1125–1134|year=2005|last1=Marcone|first1=Massimo F.}}</ref>
<ref name=Price2004>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03182.x|url=http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kjohnson/kpj_pdfs/J.Avian.Biol.2004.pdf|title=The evolution of echolocation in swiftlets|journal=Journal of Avian Biology|volume=35|issue=2|pages=135–143 |year=2004|last1=Price|first1=J. Jordan |last2=Johnson|first2=Kevin P.|last3=Clayton|first3=Dale H.|citeseerx=10.1.1.566.6319}}</ref>
<ref name=Price2005>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1474-919X.2005.00467.x|title=Phylogenetic relationships of the Papuan Swiftlet ''Aerodramus papuensis'' and implications for the evolution of avian echolocation | journal=Ibis |volume=147 |issue=4 | pages=790–796 |year=2005|last1=Price|first1=J. Jordan|last2=Johnson|first2=Kevin P.|last3=Bush|first3=Sarah E.|last4=Clayton|first4=Dale H.}}</ref>
<ref name=Thomassen2005>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.010|pmid=16006151|title=Phylogenetic relationships amongst swifts and swiftlets: A multi locus approach|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=37|issue=1| pages=264–277|year=2005|last1=Thomassen|first1=Henri A.|last2=Den Tex|first2=Robert-Jan|last3=De Bakker|first3=Merijn A.G.|last4=Povel|first4=G. David E.|bibcode=2005MolPE..37..264T }}</ref>
<ref name=Thomassen2006>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00648.x|title=Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of the echo clicks and social vocalizations of swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae)|journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | volume=88| issue=4| pages=631–643|year=2006|last1=Thomassen|first1=H. A.|last2=Povel|first2=G. D. E.|doi-access=}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
* '''Camfield''', Alaine (2004) [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Apodidae.html Apodidae]. ''Animal Diversity Web'' (online). Accessed August 24, 2006.
* '''Gausset''', Quentin (2004): Chronicle of a Foreseeable Tragedy: Birds' Nests Management in the Niah Caves (Sarawak).  ''Human Ecology'' '''32'''(4): 487–506. {{doi|10.1023/B:HUEC.0000043517.23277.54}} (HTML abstract)

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2213958}}

[[Category:Apodidae]]
[[Category:Cave birds]]
[[Category:Animals that use echolocation]]