Aerodramus sawtelli
Atiu Swiftlet
Kōpeka AT
f.APODIDAE
Swifts
Aerodramus sawtelli
Atiu Swiftlet
Kōpeka AT
f.APODIDAE
Swifts
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesAtiu Swiftlet EN Atiusalangane DE
Local NamesKōpekaAT,MK
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesAerodramus sawtelli (accepted name)
, Collocalia sawtelli, Aerodramus leucophaeus sawtelli
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, c.Birds, f.Swifts - Bird
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.TETRAPODA, c.AVES, sc.NEOGNATHAE, o.Apodiformes, f.APODIDAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR-MG-AT++MK- XMT-AK-PL-MN-TK-
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK-NS-SW-
VouchersNo Content
Local OriginNative; Resident; Endemic of Cook Is
Global RangeNative: Cooks (Ātiu);
HabitatLand; Lowlands, Makatea, Horticultural Zone
ThreatenedGlobally endangered - seriously; REDLIST
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationTo 15cm TL, 30cm wing span. Sexes similar. Body uniformly blackish-brown above, paler below; with a pale band over the base of the tail. Face blunt with short bill, and large protruding eye-brows; eyes black. Long curved wings, short tail. CALL shrilmore...l 'chreee' (when feeding); variable staccato clicks "chi--chi--chi-chi-chi" (within cave). BREEDING nests of woven plant fibre and lichens within caves. Both birds inubate and feed young. EGGS 1-2, unmarked white. Laying starts early September, first hatchlings beginning October and first fledglings mid-November - last fledglings in late March.
Similar SpeciesNo Content
Interest NoteAtiu Swiftlets nest and roost in completely dark parts of camore...ves. During the non-breeding season they typically leave in the morning between 6-7.30am and return in the evening between 6-7pm. During the breeding season they return about 6 times to feed their young. Outside the cave they never land. They use their excellent vision to catch flying insects over open areas and near trees. In the caves the birds echolocate using a series of audible clicks, which increase in frequency as they approach objects. The clicks have a single pulse of 2-3milliseconds duration. When they land the call clicks are lengthened and this may act as a warning announcement. Takitaki is an imitation of the sound of the swiftlet; and 'ana" means 'cave'.
The most closely related swiftlets are the Tahiti Swiftlet (cliff-nesting and non-echolocating) and the Marquesas Swiftlet (cliff and cave-nesting, the latter echolocating). The White-rumped Swiftlet, eastward to Tonga, is cave-nesting and echolocating - having a two-pulse click.
Swifts and swiftlets are fast fliers. The Needletailed Swift, possibly the fastest-flying bird in the world, can level flight at 170km/hr. The White-rumped Swiftlet of Tonga and Fiji accelerates up to 110km/hr as it enters its caves to avoid predation by Barn Owls.
The most closely related swiftlets are the Tahiti Swiftlet (cliff-nesting and non-echolocating) and the Marquesas Swiftlet (cliff and cave-nesting, the latter echolocating). The White-rumped Swiftlet, eastward to Tonga, is cave-nesting and echolocating - having a two-pulse click.
Swifts and swiftlets are fast fliers. The Needletailed Swift, possibly the fastest-flying bird in the world, can level flight at 170km/hr. The White-rumped Swiftlet of Tonga and Fiji accelerates up to 110km/hr as it enters its caves to avoid predation by Barn Owls.
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Vernacular Names
no data available
Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.23 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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