Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Aerodramus fuciphagus
Family: Swifts · Status: Very common resident and very common introduced resident · Size: 11–12 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Resident across the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Greater and Lesser Sundas, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
A small swiftlet with greyish-brown upperparts, dull rump band and paler underparts. Indistinguishable from Black-nest Swiftlet in flight, and can only be conclusively identified by the naked or lightly-feathered tarsi (in hand), or by its white nest made of saliva. Lays two eggs unlike the one egg of the Black-nest Swiftlet.
Forests, clearings, coast, lowlands, and out at sea; nests colonially in coastal caves and man-made structures.
Very commonly encountered all over Singapore. Feeds on small aerial insects in flight. Flight pattern is erratic, consisting of frequent flapping and changes of direction. Usually flies higher over the tree line and has a slower, less chaotic flight than Plume-toed Swiftlet.