The Palau swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to Palau.
Region
Micronesia
Typical Environment
Found throughout the Palau archipelago, especially around limestone islands with caves suitable for roosting and nesting. It forages over forest canopies, coastal lagoons, and open ocean nearshore. Birds commute between cave colonies and feeding areas, often following valleys and coastal corridors. Human structures like bridges or culverts may occasionally be used as roosts where cave-like conditions occur.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 250 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This swiftlet is endemic to Palau and typically nests in caves, where it can use simple echolocation clicks to navigate in darkness. It spends most of its life on the wing, catching tiny insects over forests and coastal waters. Nests are small cup structures glued to rock using saliva. Colonies can be sensitive to disturbance at roost and nesting caves.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with swift, scything maneuvers; strong aerialist
Social Behavior
Typically forms small to medium colonies in caves, where pairs build saliva cup nests on walls or ceilings. Pairs are generally monogamous within a breeding season and share incubation and chick rearing. Outside breeding, flocks forage together over suitable open airspace.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin twitters and rapid chips given in flight. Inside caves it also produces dry clicking sounds used for simple echolocation.
