Plume-toed Swiftlet collecting nesting materials

Saw Plume-toed Swiftlet (Collocalia affinis), also known as Glossy Swiftlet or Western Glossy Swiftlet, collecting nesting material from the Silvergrass (Miscanthus) flowering heads (below).

This swiftlet was also seen collecting leaves of the Geijera parviflora (introduced Australian Willow, also known as Wilga). Material was collected with the beak (below).

Previous observations on nesting materials collection:

1. Twice seen collecting strands from creepers
2. Once collecting fibre from Livistona chinensis palms
3. Three times stealing material from Baya Weaver nests (HERE)
4. Once harvesting aerial roots from epiphytes plants growing on trees.
5. Once collecting the bark of an Albizia saman (Rain Tree) – stripping off strands of bark.
6. Once collecting the ‘needles’ of a Casuarina tree (possibly Casuarina equisetifolia)
7. Once collecting fine roots of tree orchids
8. Leaves of the Geijera parviflora (introduced Australian Willow, also known as Wilga)
9. A number of episodes of birds collecting dried bracken leaves (Dicranopteris linearis) – this is the commonest nesting material I have seen collected.

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

4th March 2021

Location: Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Fringe of primary forest

Equipment: Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone