A "flying cigar" that spends nearly its entire life on the wing — eating, drinking, bathing, and even mating in flight. North American populations have crashed 67% since 1966.

Also called: Cigar Bird, American Swift

Native status: Native to eastern US; vulnerable

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in); wingspan 28–30 cm
Weight17–30 g
LifespanWild typically 4–5 years; oldest documented 14
OrderApodiformes
FamilyApodidae

§ Encyclopedia

The chimney swift is a bird belonging to the swift family Apodidae. A member of the genus Chaetura, it is closely related to both Vaux's swift and Chapman's swift; in the past, the three were sometimes considered to be conspecific. It has no subspecies. The chimney swift is a medium-sized, sooty gray bird with very long, slender wings and very short legs. Like all swifts, it is incapable of perching on flat surfaces, and can only perch on vertical surfaces. Many fly around all day and only come down at night when roosting.

Source: Wikipedia — Chimney swift Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small dark "flying cigar" — entirely sooty-brown body with no contrasting markings; long swept-back narrow wings; very short tail.

Similar species. Other swift species (different ranges). Swallows (different shape, more contrasted). Nighthawks (different shape, distinct white wing patches).

Voice. High-pitched rapid chittering calls; nearly constant in flight.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Flying insects exclusively — flies, mosquitoes, midges, ants, wasps, mayflies, beetles. Drinks by skimming water surfaces.

Behavior. Spends nearly its entire life on the wing — eats, drinks, bathes, courts, and even mates in flight. Cannot perch like other birds; instead clings vertically to walls using stiff spiny tail feathers. Pre-European, nested in hollow trees and cliffs; now overwhelmingly dependent on brick chimneys — many of which have been capped or demolished, contributing to the species' 67% decline since 1966. Winters in upper Amazon basin of Peru, Ecuador, Brazil.

§ Range

Eastern North America in summer; winters in upper Amazon basin

§ Habitat

Skies above towns and forests; nest and roost in chimneys, hollow trees, abandoned structures

§ Threats

Loss of large chimneys (capping, demolition), pesticide-driven insect decline, deforestation in wintering grounds.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the chimney swift is currently classified as Vulnerable.

§ What helps

Leave chimneys uncapped from April through October if not in use. Build a swift tower if you can. Skip pesticides.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • American Bird Conservancy
  • Driftwood Wildlife Association
  • IUCN Red List 2018