bird’s-nest soup
Quick Summary
Bird's nest soup is a delicacy made from the nests of swiftlets, specifically species like Aerodramus fuciphagus. These small, cave-dwelling birds, found in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, construct their nests primarily from a glutinous secretion produced by their salivary glands. This unique ingredient gives the soup its characteristic texture. The practice of using these nests for soup dates back to at least 1744. Some swiftlets also possess the remarkable ability to use echolocation to navigate dark caves, similar to bats.123
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swiftlet…saliva, is the basis of bird’s-nest soup; and, with the oilbird (q.v.), certain swiftlets are the only birds known to use echolocation to find their way around dark caverns, as do bats. The swiftlet’s “sonar” consists of clicking sounds at frequencies of 1,500 to 5,500 hertz—audible to the human ear.…
Read More…saliva, is the basis of bird’s-nest soup; and, with the oilbird (q.v.), certain swiftlets are the only birds known to use echolocation to find their way around dark caverns, as do bats. The swiftlet’s “sonar” consists of clicking sounds at frequencies of 1,500 to 5,500 hertz—audible to the human ear.…
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apodiformImportance to humans…the base for the famous bird’s-nest soup of the Orient.
Read More…the base for the famous bird’s-nest soup of the Orient.
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