About Aerodramus unicolor (Jerdon, 1840)
Aerodramus unicolor, commonly called the Indian Swiftlet or Indian Edible-Nest Swiftlet, is a small species of swift. It is a common resident colonial breeder that lives in the hills of Sri Lanka and southwest India. This species builds half-cup nests on vertical surfaces, most often inside caves. Males use thick saliva to construct the white, shiny nests, in which the female lays two eggs. The nests of this species, which are relatively tasteless, are harvested to make bird's nest soup, mixed with chicken, spices, and other flavors, and the soup is thought to be an aphrodisiac. The species reaches 12 cm in length. It is mainly dark brown on its upper side, and paler brown on its underside. Its swept-back wings resemble a crescent or a boomerang. It has a slender body and a short, only slightly indented tail. Both adult sexes and young individuals look similar. The Indian Swiftlet has very short legs, which it only uses to cling to vertical surfaces, because swifts never settle voluntarily on the ground. These swifts spend most of their lives flying, feeding on insects they catch with their bills, and even drink while in flight.
