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Baby chimney swifts are altricial—naked, blind and helpless when they hatch. Fledglings leave the nest after a month. [57] The average chimney swift's life span is 4.6 years, [60] but one is known to have lived more than 14 years. It was originally banded as an adult, and was recaptured in another banding operation some 12.5 years later. [61]
All swifts eat insects, such as dragonflies, flies, ants, aphids, wasps and bees as well as aerial spiders. Prey is typically caught in flight using the beak. Some species, like the chimney swift, hunt in mixed species flocks with other aerial insectivores such as members of Hirundinidae (swallows). [18]
Thousands of birds flock in great living tornados, then funnel into the chimney. Estimates of 1,700 to 35,000 swifts have been reported in various years. Shortly after sunset, over a period of roughly 30 minutes, they fly into the top of the brick chimney (constructed c.1925) to roost on the interior surface until they depart at sunrise. [8]
Roughly 70 to 80 types of swifts live worldwide, but only the chimney swift is native east of the Rocky Mountains. The birds head north in March , nesting in April and May to lay four to five eggs.
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
The swifts are small birds, spending most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
The SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 competition has just wrapped up its seventh year, and it’s been another amazing showcase of bird photography from all over the world. With over 2,300 ...
These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Four species have been recorded in Wyoming. Black swift, Cypseloides niger; Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica; Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (A)