Information
“Bird’s Nest” or better known as “edible Bird’s Nest” in the West, is basically salivary secretion of the male swiftlets. These swiftlets are known as Collocallia Fuciphagus (Collocallia species). The sticky secretion is regurgitated to form the nest.
Among the 90 species of swiftlets found in Southeast Asia, only 3 are found to make nests of efficacy value, namely the Aerodramus Germania, Aerodramus Fuciphagus and Aerodramus Maximus. These swiflets have very short bills, wide mouths, small and weak feet, and long crescent shaped wings. They are relatively small in size. They never perch or rest except when they are sleeping, building their nests, or feeding their young. Their nests are made of glutinous strands of starched-like saliva produced by a pair of large salivary glands under their tongue.
These species build their new homes in the caves of Southeast Asian region in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam during the winter months.