Echolocation by cave swiftlets

Summary The ability of cave dwelling swiftlets (Collocalia spodiopygius) to detect small cylindrical obstacles by echolocation was tested in a 3x9 m flight chamber. Although there was great individual variability, 6.3 mm obstacles were avoided much more often in total darkness than 1.5 wires (P<0.001). Flash photographs showed that the latter were avoided only by chance (about 50% misses). Obstacles 3.0 mm in diameter were avoided only slightly more often than 1.5 mm wires.Even in the light these swiftlets avoided the obstacles in only about 75% of the trials, probably because gentle touches with the primary feathers caused little discomfort.The 3.0 and 6.3 mm obstacles tended to be avoided more often on first encounters after they had been shifted horizontally by 10–30 cm, probably because the birds became more attentive.