The Moluccan swiftlet is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae that is found on Sulawesi and on the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Two subspecies, the Sulawesi swiftlet and the Seram swiftlet, have sometimes been considered as separate species.
Region
Eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands)
Typical Environment
Occurs on Sulawesi and across parts of the Maluku Islands, where it frequents lowland and montane forest edges, karst landscapes, and coastal areas. It commonly forages above forest canopy, open country, rivers, and shorelines. Nesting takes place in limestone and volcanic caves, where colonies adhere saliva-built nests to walls and ceilings. It may also be seen over towns and plantations near suitable roosting caves.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This swiftlet forms large nesting colonies in caves and can echolocate, producing audible clicks to navigate in complete darkness. It spends most of its life on the wing, catching tiny insects over forests and coasts. Some populations have been split by taxonomists into the Sulawesi swiftlet and the Seram swiftlet.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
fast, agile flier with rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Highly colonial nesters in caves, where pairs build bracket-shaped nests from hardened saliva. Generally monogamous within breeding seasons and may reuse nesting sites across years. Outside breeding, individuals often forage in loose, mixed flocks over open habitats.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include thin, high-pitched twittering and trills while foraging. Inside caves it emits distinct clicking notes used for echolocation, often heard as rapid series or rattling clicks.
