Swiftlets are birds contained within the four genera Aerodramus, Hydrochous, Schoutedenapus and Collocalia. They form the Collocaliini tribe within the swift 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 wings for fast flight, with a wide gape and small reduced beak surrounded by bristles for catching insects in flight. What distinguishes many but not all species from other swifts and indeed almost all other birds is their ability to use a simple but effective form of echolocation to navigate in total darkness through the chasms and shafts of the caves where they roost at night and breed. The nests of some species are built entirely from threads of their saliva, and are collected for the famous Chinese delicacy bird's nest soup.
Aerodramus is a genus of small, dark, cave-nesting birds in the Collocaliini tribe of the swift family. Its members are confined to tropical and subtropical regions in southern Asia, Oceania and northeastern Australia. Many of its members were formerly classified in Collocalia, but were first placed in a separate genus by American ornithologist Harry Church Oberholser in 1906.
The mossy-nest swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. Some taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies of the uniform swiftlet. It is found in northern Borneo, the Natuna and the Derawan Islands and Nias island off western Sumatra. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Ameline swiftlet, also known as the grey swiftlet, was formerly considered as a subspecies of the uniform swiftlet. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Despite some fears around conservation, the species remains a Least-concern species.
The Mariana swiftlet or Guam swiftlet is a species of swiftlet in the family Apodidae.
The Mascarene swiftlet or Mauritius swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Mauritius and Réunion, and the populations on the two islands have recently been confirmed to differ subspecifically. The nominate race francicus is found on Mauritius and the recently described race saffordi occurs on Réunion. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, caves, arable land, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Germain's swiftlet is a species of swift.
The black-nest swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
The Philippine swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The bare-legged swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in New Guinea, in subtropical and tropical moist montane forest.
The Marquesan swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Palau swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to Palau.
The white-rumped swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.
Whitehead's swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is named after the British explorer John Whitehead (1860–1899) who collected natural history specimens in Borneo and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
The Halmahera swiftlet or Moluccan swiftlet is a species in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to Halmahera.
The Sulawesi swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Moluccan swiftlet.
The Seram swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Buru, Seram, Boano and Ambon Island. It used to be considered a subspecies of the Moluccan swiftlet.
The island swiftlet, also known as the Caroline swiftlet, Micronesian swiftlet, or Caroline Islands swiftlet, is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. Some taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies of the uniform swiftlet. It is endemic to the Caroline Islands, and its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The Apodinae are a subfamily of swifts and contain the following species:
