The Christmas Island swiftlet, also known as the Christmas glossy swiftlet or the Christmas cave swiftlet, is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae. It is endemic to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the eastern Indian Ocean. It was formerly commonly treated as a subspecies of the glossy swiftlet.
Region
Eastern Indian Ocean
Typical Environment
Confined to Christmas Island, where it occupies primary and secondary rainforest edges, coastal cliffs, and open clearings. It forages widely over the canopy and along shorelines, often ranging across much of the island in search of aerial insects. Nesting colonies are typically in limestone sea caves and inland karst caves on narrow ledges, sometimes in crevices near cave mouths. It may occasionally use sheltered man‑made structures when natural ledges are available nearby.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 360 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to Australia’s Christmas Island, this small swift was long treated as a subspecies of the glossy swiftlet. It nests colonially on ledges in sea and karst caves, building cup nests with plant fibers bound by saliva. Almost constantly on the wing, it hawks tiny insects high over forest and coastal cliffs. Its fast, agile flight makes it an effective controller of aerial insect populations.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
rapid, fluttery wingbeats with swift arcs and brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen in small to medium flocks, sometimes mixed with other aerial insectivores. Breeds colonially on narrow cave ledges, with pairs nesting close together. Both adults attend the nest, incubating and feeding the single chick (occasionally two) with boluses of insects. Territoriality is minimal outside the immediate nest site.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin twittering and chittering calls given in flight and around colonies. At nesting sites it adds sharper chips and chatters used in close-range interactions. Overall song is simple and repetitive rather than musical.
