
Common summer resident of Eastern North America. Adult is swallow-like, with cigar-shaped body, thinner wings, and quicker wingbeats than swallows; plumage is sooty-brown overall without black or white markings. Slightly larger than the nearly identical Vaux's Swift of Western U.S.; virtually indistinguishable by plumage, but note range and voice.
Length: 13 (cm) Wingspan: 36 (cm)
Voice:
Chattering calls with loud chip notes.
Habitat:
Cities, suburbs, especially near chimneys; open areas, woodlands.
Behavior:
Unlike swallows, cannot perch, but instead hangs vertically inside chimneys and snags. Flies constantly, usually high overhead, often making twittering calls; acrobatic, glides in circles, flies with fast wingbeats, and quickly rocks side-to-side as it changes direction. Nests inside chimneys or hollow standing trees, gluing half saucer-shaped nest to vertical surface with saliva. During migration, large groups may be seen swirling down roosting chimneys at dusk.
Feeding:
Catches flying insects in midair.
Field Notes
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
Post a Question
Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
08/03/13 | Carol Cwiklinski, VA | # |
06/01/13 | Carol Cwiklinski, VA | # |
05/19/12 | Billy Bump, MS | 25 |
07/10/11 | Billy Bump, MS | 20 |
05/10/11 | Jane Van Coney, OH | # |
05/06/12 | Jane Van Coney, OH | # |
07/01/12 | Jackson Scheerer, WI | 1 |
07/01/12 | Jackson Scheerer, WI | 1 |
05/13/12 | Caleb Arrison, PA | 1 |
05/13/12 | Matthew Cross | # |
05/03/12 | Bryan Ward, WV | # |
04/30/12 | Joshua Kelver | 15 |
05/20/02 | Mary Ratcliff, OR | # |
07/24/11 | Jeffrey Greco, PA | # |
07/21/11 | Jeffrey Greco, PA | 100 |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Jackson Scheerer added Chimney Swift to their My House in Campbellsport, WI smart list | 7/01/2012 at 6:38PM |
Bryan Ward added Chimney Swift to their Whispering Way, South Charleston, WV smart list | 5/07/2012 at 11:29AM |
Joshua Kelver added Chimney Swift to their Waynesburg, PA smart list | 4/30/2012 at 8:42AM |
Mary Ratcliff added Chimney Swift to their Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine smart list | 1/28/2012 at 11:05PM |