biology

Pygmy swiftlet

Pygmy swiftlet is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Pygmy swiftlet rather than just read about it. In short: The pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Key takeaways

Pygmy swiftlet belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Pygmy swiftlet to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Pygmy swiftlet from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. At under 9 cm (3.5 in), it is the world's smallest swift. It weighs only 5 grams.

Description and taxonomy This species is monotypic.

Ecology and behavior It feeds small insects in flight. Forms small groups when foraging. Swiftlets that nest in complete darkness in caves can use echolocation, the ability to position an object by reflected sound, used by other animals such as dolphins and bats. Breeding season varies per island but usually within the window from May to September

Habitat and conservation This is a lowland species thats mostly found near forest and bodies of water. International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as a least-concern species as it has a large range and is common. However, it has a declining population due to deforestation from land conversion, Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.

References

Price, J. J., Johnson, K. P., & Clayton, D. H. (2004). The Evolution of echolocation in Swiftlets. Journal of Avian Biology 35(2), 135–143. doi: 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03182.x Thomassen, H. A., Den Tex, R., De Bakker, M., & Povel, G. (2005). Phylogenetic relationship among Swifts and Swiflets . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37(1), 264–277. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.010

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Pygmy swiftlet

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Pygmy swiftlet claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Pygmy swiftlet before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Pygmy swiftlet ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Pygmy swiftlet

In research: Pygmy swiftlet appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Pygmy swiftlet in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Pygmy swiftlet is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Apodiformes stubs, Birds described in 1845, Collocalia, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Pygmy swiftlet outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Pygmy swiftlet in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Pygmy swiftlet means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Pygmy swiftlet out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pygmy swiftlet in simple terms?

The pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Why does Pygmy swiftlet matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Pygmy swiftlet?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Pygmy swiftlet.