# Chaetura Swifts (*Chaetura*) Chaetura swifts are amazing birds that can fly really fast! They have long wings and spend most of their time in the sky, catching insects to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Forests ![Chaetura Swifts](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/ChimneySwift23.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ChimneySwift23.jpg) ## Appearance The Chaetura Swifts have a distinctive cigar-shaped body and long, scythe-like wings. Their plumage is typically a dull sooty-brown or grey, with slightly paler underparts. They possess a short, bristly tail, which makes them appear almost tailless. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Apodiformes - **Family:** Apodidae - **Genus:** Chaetura ## Interesting facts - Some swifts make their nests by gluing twigs together with their sticky saliva! - Swift babies are born without feathers, looking like tiny pink aliens! - They can sleep while flying, resting one half of their brain at a time! - They spend almost their entire lives in the air, only landing to nest! ## Special abilities - **Aerodynamic Ace:** Chaetura Swifts can perform acrobatic aerial feats because their long, narrow wings and streamlined bodies help them dart and glide effortlessly. - **Vertical Gripper:** Chaetura Swifts can cling to rough vertical surfaces because their small feet have sharp claws and stiff, spiny tail feathers, helping them roost securely. - **Bug Vacuum:** Chaetura Swifts can catch flying insects mid-air because of their wide gape and rapid flight, helping them scoop up dinner in huge numbers. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 28-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 4-8 years - **Speed:** 100 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 18-21 days - **Migration Distance:** 7000 km ## Diet & Feeding These amazing birds are insectivores, catching all their tiny insect meals while flying high in the sky! - **Age differences:** Young swifts are fed regurgitated insects by their parents until they can hunt for themselves. - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Mosquitoes, Beetles, Ants, Moths, Wasps - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Fast falcons sometimes catch swifts mid-air. - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — This hawk preys on smaller birds, including swifts. - **Eats:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons raid swift nests and roosts in chimneys. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch swifts from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chaetura Swifts? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Chaetura Swifts? 12-14 cm ### What is Chaetura Swifts's wingspan? 28-35 cm ### How much does Chaetura Swifts weigh? 0.02-0.03 kg ### How long does Chaetura Swifts live? 4-8 years ### How fast can Chaetura Swifts move? 100 km/h ### What does Chaetura Swifts eat? These amazing birds are insectivores, catching all their tiny insect meals while flying high in the sky! ### Where is Chaetura Swifts usually found? Urban areas, Forests ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Chaetura Swifts: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chaetura-swifts)