Pygmy swiftlet

Pygmy swiftlet
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Apodidae
Genus:	Collocalia
Species:	C. troglodytes
Binomial name
Collocalia troglodytes Gray, GR, 1845

The pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. At under 9 cm (3.5 in), it is the world's smallest swift. It weighs only 5 grams.

Description and taxonomy

This species is monotypic.

Ecology and behavior

It feeds small insects in flight. Forms small groups when foraging.

Swiftlets that nest in complete darkness in caves can use echolocation, the ability to position an object by reflected sound, used by other animals such as dolphins and bats. Breeding season varies per island but usually within the window from May to September

Habitat and conservation

This is a lowland species thats mostly found near forest and bodies of water.

International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as a least-concern species as it has a large range and is common. However, it has a declining population due to deforestation from land conversion, Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.

References

• Price, J. J., Johnson, K. P., & Clayton, D. H. (2004). The Evolution of echolocation in Swiftlets. Journal of Avian Biology 35(2), 135–143. doi: 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03182.x
• Thomassen, H. A., Den Tex, R., De Bakker, M., & Povel, G. (2005). Phylogenetic relationship among Swifts and Swiflets . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37(1), 264–277. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.010

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