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Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Vulnerable

Wingspan

24.9 cm

Weight

22.666666666666668 g

Family

Apodidae

Order

Caprimulgiformes

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About

A medium-sized swift (12-15 cm) famous for roosting and nesting inside chimneys across eastern North America. Dark grey-brown plumage with a cigar-shaped body and short, spine-tipped tail. Aerial insectivore catching flying insects. Long-distance migrant wintering in northwestern South America.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	24.9 cm	9.8 in
Weight	22.666666666666668 g	0.80 oz

Identification

Plumage

Small; uniformly dark sooty-grey overall with slightly paler grey throat and chin; no contrasting rump patch; short spiny tail; sexes identical; North American chimney-nesting species famous for its swirling pre-roost flocking displays.

Habitat & Range

🏖️ Coastal 🌲 Forest

Geographic Range

Breeds in eastern North America from Canada south to Texas. Long-distance migrant wintering in the upper Amazon basin of Peru and Brazil.

Diet & Feeding

Aerial forager on tiny insects and wind-dispersed spiders; forages near water surfaces where insects concentrate.

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: HC,O. Incubation: 16-21 days. Fledging: 28-30 days.

Clutch Size

2-7

Sound

Song

Rapid, liquid twittering with bright cheerful quality; chi-chi-chi staccato notes carrying well across open sky at dusk.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars & Swifts)
Family	Apodidae (Swifts)
Genus	Chaetura
Species	Chaetura pelagica

Distribution

Chimney Swift has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded