Common Swift

Informazioni

The Common Swift (Apus apus) is a highly aerial migratory bird, renowned for its exceptional flight capabilities. It spends almost its entire life in the air, feeding, drinking, mating, and even sleeping on the wing. Its scientific name 'Apus' is Greek for 'no feet', referring to its small, weak feet unsuited for walking, though they are perfectly adapted for clinging to vertical surfaces.

Dimensioni e longevità

Lunghezza

16-17 cm

Apertura alare

42-48 cm

Peso

35-56 g

Longevità

Up to 21 years in the wild, typically 5-7 years

Dieta

Insectivore

Caratteristiche fisiche

Piumaggio

Sooty brown to blackish-brown overall, with a distinctive pale, whitish throat patch that is often difficult to see at a distance. The plumage is uniformly dark, lacking any lighter underparts or rump patch.

Forma del becco

Small, black, and triangular when closed, but capable of opening very wide to capture insects in flight.

Colore degli occhi

Dark brown to black

Colore delle zampe

Blackish-brown, very short and weak, with all four toes pointing forward (pamprodactyl) for clinging.

Caratteristiche distintive

Long, scythe-shaped wings, a short, forked tail (often appearing square or slightly notched in flight), and a uniformly dark plumage. Its flight is fast, powerful, and agile, characterized by rapid wing beats and long glides.

Aspetto giovanile

Juveniles resemble adults but often have a slightly paler, more prominent throat patch and a fresher, darker plumage with a faint scaly appearance due to pale feather edgings, particularly on the wings and tail. The tail fork may also appear slightly deeper.

Cambiamenti stagionali

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly browner and more worn towards the end of the breeding season before the annual molt.

Dimorfismo sessuale

None; males and females are identical in plumage and size.

Come identificare

1. 1

   Overall Plumage

   Look for a uniformly dark, sooty brown to blackish-brown bird. No white rump or pale belly. The pale throat patch is often hard to see unless close.

2. 2

   Wing Shape

   Distinctive long, narrow, scythe-shaped wings. When gliding, the wings are held stiffly, often slightly bowed.

3. 3

   Tail Shape

   Short, forked tail, which often appears square or slightly notched in flight, especially when spread. Not deeply forked like a swallow's.

4. 4

   Flight Style

   Extremely fast, powerful, and agile flight with rapid wing beats and long, sweeping glides. Often seen in large, screaming flocks.

5. 5

   Vocalization

   Listen for the characteristic high-pitched, piercing 'scree-scree-scree' calls, especially around buildings in summer evenings.

6. 6

   Behavior

   Spends almost its entire life in the air. Only lands at its nest site. Never seen perched on wires or branches like swallows.

Habitat e areale

Biomi

Urban areas, towns, villages, open countryside, cliffs, and mountainous regions.

Areale geografico

Breeds across most of Europe and temperate Asia, from the Atlantic coast to Siberia and China. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fascia altitudinale

From sea level up to 3,000 meters in breeding areas, often higher during migration.

Ambienti preferiti

Primarily associated with human settlements where buildings provide nesting sites. Also uses natural cliffs and tree holes in less developed areas. Requires open airspace for foraging on aerial insects.

Comportamento

Periodo di attività

Diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often flying high into the night during non-breeding periods.

Abitudini alimentari

Feeds exclusively on aerial insects and spiders, collectively known as 'aerial plankton'. It catches prey in its wide gape while flying, often in large flocks, especially before storms or during migration.

Comportamento sociale

Highly social, especially during the breeding season, forming large colonies in suitable nesting sites. Often seen foraging in large, swirling flocks. Roosts communally in the air during non-breeding periods.

Tipo di volo

Extremely fast, agile, and graceful. Characterized by powerful, stiff wing beats interspersed with long, sweeping glides. Can reach speeds of over 100 km/h. Spends virtually its entire life in the air, only landing to nest.

Migrazione

Long-distance migratory species. Arrives in breeding grounds in Europe and Asia from late April to early May and departs for wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa from late July to early September.

Territorialità

Colonial breeder, defending only the immediate nest site. Foraging areas are shared.

Riproduzione

Stagione riproduttiva

May to August, with peak egg-laying in late May to early June.

Abitudini di nidificazione

Nests colonially in cavities, primarily in buildings (under eaves, in roof spaces, behind fascia boards), but also in natural cliff crevices or tree holes. The nest is a shallow cup made of airborne debris (feathers, plant material, paper) glued together with saliva.

Dimensione della covata

2-3 eggs

Descrizione dell'uovo

Typically 2-3 (occasionally 1 or 4) pure white, elliptical eggs.

Periodo di incubazione

19-20 days, incubated by both parents.

Periodo di involo

37-56 days, highly variable depending on food availability. Young are fed by both parents.

Cure parentali

Both parents share incubation duties and feed the nestlings. Young are capable of surviving periods of food scarcity by entering a state of torpor.

Dove trovarlo

Consigli sul campo

1. Look Up. Swifts are almost always in the air. Scan the sky, especially above buildings.
2. Listen for Calls. Their distinctive 'screaming' calls are often the first indication of their presence, even before you see them.
3. Time of Day. They are particularly active and vocal in the mornings and evenings, performing aerial displays around their nesting sites.
4. Seasonal Timing. Common Swifts are summer visitors to their breeding grounds. Look for them from late April/early May to late July/early August.
5. Weather Conditions. Before thunderstorms, swifts often fly lower and in larger, more frantic flocks as they feed on insects brought down by changes in air pressure.

Specie simili

Fatti rapidi

Flight Time:

Spends up to 10 months continuously in the air outside of the breeding season.

Speed:

Can reach speeds over 100 km/h (60 mph).

Diet:

Exclusively aerial insects ('aerial plankton').

Nesting:

Colonial, primarily in buildings.

Migration:

Long-distance migrant to sub-Saharan Africa.

Curiosità

• Common Swifts can sleep while flying, performing short 'naps' during long glides at high altitudes.
• They are one of the fastest birds in level flight.
• A swift's feet are so small and weak that they cannot perch on wires or branches like other birds; they can only cling to vertical surfaces.
• Young swifts can survive periods of food shortage in the nest by entering a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism.
• The oldest recorded Common Swift lived for over 21 years.

Classificazione scientifica

Regno

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Classe

Aves

Ordine

Apodiformes

Famiglia

Apodidae

Genere

Apus

Specie

Apus apus

Esplora Common Swift