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). Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its status is insufficiently known.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Endemic to the Philippines, where it occupies moist montane forest zones and nearby open airspace. It commonly roosts and breeds in limestone caves, rock crevices, and sometimes behind waterfalls, flying out to feed over ridgelines and valleys. Birds are frequently seen coursing above the forest canopy and along forest edges and clearings. Suitable habitat requires intact montane forest near nesting caves and cliffs. It is typically localized where such cave and forest combinations occur.
Altitude Range
800–2200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Whitehead's swiftlet is a little-known cave-nesting swiftlet endemic to the Philippines, named for the British explorer John Whitehead. Like several swiftlets, it can produce audible clicking sounds used for basic echolocation in dark roosts and nesting sites. It forages on the wing over montane forests, taking tiny aerial insects. Its nests are mainly built with saliva and plant material, unlike the pure saliva nests of the edible-nest swiftlet.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
rapid, agile flight with swift, shallow wingbeats; prolonged glides over slopes
Social Behavior
Forms colonies in caves for roosting and nesting. Pairs are likely monogamous during the breeding season, with both adults tending the nest. Nests are small pads of saliva mixed with plant fibers or moss attached to cave walls. Outside breeding, birds often gather in loose foraging flocks over suitable airspace.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin twittering and dry chittering calls given in flight. Inside caves it produces audible clicking sounds used for basic echolocation.
Plumage
Sooty to dark brown upperparts with slightly paler, gray-brown underparts; smooth, glossy-looking plumage typical of swiftlets.
Diet
Feeds almost exclusively on small aerial insects such as flies, ants, termites, and beetles caught in continuous flight. It hawks insects above the canopy, along ridgelines, and over forest clearings. Foraging is highly aerial and opportunistic, concentrating where insect swarms rise on warm updrafts. It drinks on the wing by skimming water surfaces.
Preferred Environment
Open airspace over montane evergreen forest, edges, and river valleys near nesting caves. Frequently uses ridges and slopes where updrafts concentrate flying insects.
