Chaetura pelagica

Description

A “cigar with wing”. They are blackish, have curved, long, stiff wings, and they have a short tail. Their flight looks more bat-like than bird-like; it appears that their wings do not beat at the same time (this is just an allusion).

Voice

They have loud, fast ticking notes.

Habitat

These are very aerial birds, normally landing only at their nests. They can be found in open skies, especially over cities and towns. Their nests are in chimneys (but originally in caves and hallow trees).

Diet

They eat flying insects.

Range

Chimney swifts are found throughout the eastern part of the United States, over to Montana and down to Texas.

Other Useful Information

Chimney swifts will live in same chimney in large numbers during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, one mating pair will stay in the chimney, and other non-breeding chimney swifts may also stay in the chimney. The breeding pair tolerates the other birds, but they are the only ones with a nest. This confuses many people into thinking that chimney swifts are colonial birds, when in fact there is only one breeding pair in the chimney.