Ilmakerääjä

Ilmakerääjä is a Finnish term used to describe a type of bird that forages for insects and other invertebrates in flight. The term is derived from the Finnish words "ilmakätki", meaning "air gatherer", and "ääjä", meaning "sweeper" or "migrant".

Birds that fit this description are typically aerial predators, such as swallows, dragonflies, and damselflies. These birds use their agility and speed to chase down their prey in mid-air, often while in flight themselves. The term ilmakerääjä may also be used to describe birds of prey, such as swifts and swallows, that feed on flying insects.

The behavior of ilmakerääjä birds is an important adaptation for their survival, as it allows them to exploit a rich source of food that is abundant in many ecosystems. By using aerial hunting tactics, these birds are able to capture a wide range of invertebrate prey, from small insects to larger flying creatures.

In some cases, the term ilmakerääjä may be used broadly to describe any bird or insect that exhibits aerial foraging behavior, including birds that hover in place or fly slowly over water or vegetation. However, in traditional Finnish usage, the term is more specifically applied to birds that actively chase down prey in mid-air.