Onset of Echo-location Clicking in Collocalia Swiftlets

Abstract

As a result of work initiated at the Sarawak Museum, Medway described and analysed the echo-location system of the cave dwelling “edible-nest swifblet”, Collocalia maxima, of Borneo¹. Other work on C. salangana, which makes a moss nest (in Borneo), is as yet unpublished²; however, the taxonomy and nomenclature of all Collocalia are discussed by Medway³. The only other bird genus known to make use of echo-location is the central American oil-bird, Steatornis⁴. In both genera the basic element is a loud click of short duration, comprising mixed frequencies, all audible to man.