White-Nest Swiftlet

The white-nest swiftlet, also called the edible-nest swiftlet, is a small swift about 14cm long and 15–18g, found in South-east Asia. The upperparts of the slender body are blackish-brown, the underparts range from white to blackish-brown, the tail is short with a slight notch, and the bill and feet are black. In flight the swept-back wings resemble a crescent. Two white, oval, non-glossy eggs are laid (Wikipedia, general species account).

Its opaque, whitish nest is made exclusively of solidified saliva and is the main ingredient of bird's nest soup, a delicacy of Chinese cuisine. A nest typically measures about 6cm across and weighs about 14g. The birds feed over a range of habitats from coastal areas to the mountains, up to 2,800m on Sumatra and Borneo (Wikipedia, general species account).