Newsletter / Blog
2012-01-30 What birds use echolocation?
Cave Swiftlets and
Oilbirds.
Swiftlets form the Collocaliini tribe within the swift family Apodidae. The group contains around thirty species mostly confined
to southern Asia, south Pacific islands, and northeastern Australia. What
distinguishes Cave Swiftlets - Collocalia linchi - is their
ability to use a simple but effective form of echolocation to navigate in total darkness through the chasms and
shafts of the caves where they roost at night and breed. The nests of some
species are built entirely from threads of their saliva, and are collected for
the famous Chinese Birds Nest Soup.
The Oilbird
- Steatornis caripensis - is a bird found in the northern areas of South America. They are nocturnal feeders on the fruits
of the Oil Palm and tropical laurels and are the only nocturnal fruit eating
birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the
same way as bats, but with a high-pitched clicking sound audible to humans.
Birdwatching
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