Abstract: This paper reviewed the current status of spider silk application in bird nesting and its ecological significance based on national and international literature. The spider silk the birds used for nest building is mainly small finches, mostly distributed in subtropical and tropical woodlands or thickets. Spider silk can be used as structural nesting material, which has the function of fixing and reinforcing the nests. The reflective properties of white spider silk may have a camouflage effect on the nests of birds, and there is a close link between the breeding habitats of birds that use spider silk and the distribution sites of spiders. It is suggested that future in-depth studies on the interspecific interactions between birds and spiders, the chemical defense of arachnid protein substances against nest parasites, and the ecological roles and significance of arachnid silk in specific bird nests shall be carried out in order to provide new perspectives for a better understanding of the complex nesting behaviours and interspecific relationships of birds.

Key words: birds, spider silk, nesting, nesting material, interspecific relationships