swiftlet
Small Asian bird
A swiftlet is a small, swift-like bird found across Asia and the Pacific.
Several species build nests from their own saliva, which are harvested for bird's nest soup—a Chinese delicacy.
The nests are among the most expensive animal products in the world, spurring both farming and dangerous cliff-side harvesting.
Avian home structure
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- edibleSafe to consume
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- soupCooked liquid dish
Chinese · cuisine · harvesting · cave · luxury · expensive · gelatinous · collagen
Underground hollow in rock
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
- cliffVertical rock wall
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- Southeast AsiaTropical peninsula and islands
island · limestone · karst · roosting · endemic · Borneo · Philippines · Indonesia
Underwater detection by echoes
- navigationDetermining position and course
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- echoReflected sound wave
- acousticsStudy of sound transmission
biosonar · soundwaves · clicking · orientation · cave-dwelling · darkness · frequency · auditory
Elevated, or signal-catcher
- soarAscend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
- airborneTraveling through air
hover · flap · agile · maneuver · darting · acrobatic · hawking · foraging
Of or concerning birds
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- wingsLimbs for flight
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
tiny · streamlined · legs · claws · tail · lightweight · compact
Finest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- passerinePerching bird order member
At risk of extinction
- harvestingGathering mature crops
- overharvestingUnsustainable resource extraction
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- protectionGuarding against harm
sustainable · farming · population · threatened · wildlife trade · regulation
bird's nest
Avian home structure
soup · Chinese · cuisine · harvesting · cave · luxury · expensive · gelatinous · collagen · traditional
cave
Underground hollow in rock
Southeast Asia · island · limestone · karst · roosting · endemic · Borneo · Philippines · Indonesia · Malaysia
sonar
Underwater detection by echoes
- navigationDetermining position and course
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- echoReflected sound wave
acoustics · biosonar · soundwaves · clicking · orientation · cave-dwelling · darkness · frequency · auditory · foraging
aerial
Elevated, or signal-catcher
airborne · hover · flap · agile · maneuver · darting · acrobatic · hawking · foraging · swooping
avian
Of or concerning birds
plumage · tiny · streamlined · legs · claws · tail · lightweight · compact
species
Finest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
endangered
At risk of extinction
- harvestingGathering mature crops
- overharvestingUnsustainable resource extraction
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
protection · sustainable · farming · population · threatened · wildlife trade · regulation
swiftletostrich
Largest living bird
emu · cassowary · albatross · condor · elephant bird
swiftletpenguin
Flightless aquatic southern bird
heron · pelican · cormorant · kingfisher · woodpecker