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Beta
Common Swift
(Apus apus)-Europe, Asia, and Africa
Photo by
Elsemargriet
Overview
Biology
Lifecycle: Common Swifts are known for their highly aerial lifestyle. They spend most of their lives in the air, even sleeping and mating on the wing. They return to their breeding grounds in Europe during the summer and migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter.
Behavior: They are agile and swift flyers, with powerful wingbeats and the ability to soar effortlessly for extended periods. They are often seen flying high in the sky.
Vocalizations: Common Swifts are generally silent, although they may produce high-pitched calls during courtship and when interacting with other Swifts.
Food
Diet: Common Swifts primarily feed on flying insects and aerial plankton, which they catch while in flight. They are skilled aerial hunters, and their diet consists of small insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, and aphids.
Feeding Behavior: They capture their prey in the air, often hunting in flocks or solo. They are constantly on the wing during their waking hours, foraging for food.
The Common Swift is a small migratory bird species found throughout Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. It is known for its remarkable flying abilities and is often associated with summer months when it returns from its African wintering grounds.
Description
Size: Common Swifts are small birds, typically measuring about 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 inches) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 38 to 40 cm (15 to 16 inches).
Appearance: They have a slender body with long, scythe-shaped wings and a distinctive forked tail. Their plumage is dark brown to black, and they have pale throats. Their eyes are dark, and they lack the typical white or colorful plumage seen in some other bird species.
Habitat
Common Swifts are aerial birds and are most commonly found in the sky. They are often seen in urban and rural areas where they breed and nest in buildings, cliffs, or other structures.
Nests: They build nests in cavities, crevices, and eaves of buildings. Their nests are made of feathers, grass, and other materials and are glued together with their saliva.
