What is the English name for a swift bird?

The English name for a swift bird is simply “swift”. Swifts are medium-sized birds in the Apodidae family that are known for their speedy flight and aerial agility. There are around 100 species of swifts worldwide.

Swifts are found on all continents except Antarctica and get their name from their swift, rapid flight. They are sometimes referred to as “devil birds” or “screamers” due to their shrill, loud calls. Swifts spend most of their lives flying and even sleep on the wing. They have long, curved wings for speed and maneuverability in the air.

Swifts live on insects they catch in flight. Their wide mouths allow them to scoop up bugs on the go. Swifts drink by skimming the surface of water bodies and collecting water in their mouths. They build nests on cliffs, buildings, chimneys or trees using their sticky saliva to glue together materials like twigs, grass and feathers.

Characteristics of Swifts

Swifts share some common physical characteristics that enable their aerial lifestyle:

• Streamlined body shape to cut through the air
• Long, curved wings for agile flight
• Short legs and small feet used mainly for perching, not walking
• Wide gape and mouth for catching insects
• Short bills with bristles for trapping prey
• Compact plumage that doesn’t ruffle in the wind
• Large eyes for keen vision
• Claws to grip vertical surfaces

Their plumage is generally drab shades of black, brown or gray. Some species have contrasting white or reddish patches. The sexes are alike in swifts with no distinctive markings.

Size and Weight

Swifts range in size from the tiny bee hummingbird of Cuba at just 2 inches long to the white-rumped swift of Africa which reaches 8.5 inches in length. Most species measure 4 to 6 inches long. Weights range from 0.07 to 2.4 ounces across all swift species.

Wingspan

The wingspans of different swifts vary depending on their size but are generally quite broad compared to the body, which aids flight efficiency. For example:

• Common swift – 15.7 to 17.3 inches
• Black swift – 13.8 to 15 inches
• Chimney swift – 12 to 13 inches
• White-collared swift – 11.8 to 13 inches

Swift Species

There are around 100 species of swifts in the world, including:

Chimney Swift

The chimney swift is a common swift found throughout eastern North America. It is a small bird about 5 inches long with a wingspan around 12 inches. Chimney swifts have uniform dark gray-brown plumage, a short black bill and a spiny tail. As their name suggests, they nest in chimneys and other manmade structures.

Common Swift

The common swift breeds across Europe and Asia and winters in Africa. It is medium-sized at around 6.5 inches long with a wingspan of 16 inches. Common swifts are dark brown with a pale throat. They make high-pitched screaming calls while in flight. Common swifts nest in old buildings, cliff crevices and hollow trees.

White-collared Swift

As the name suggests, the white-collared swift has a prominent white collar patch contrasting with otherwise glossy black plumage. Their wingspan reaches up to 13 inches across. White-collared swifts breed in central and eastern Asia and winter in Southeast Asia and Australia. They nest on rock cliffs and in caves.

White-rumped Swift

The white-rumped swift of Africa is the largest swift species in the world, reaching 8.5 inches long with a 15 inch wingspan. Their name comes from the prominent white patch on their rumps. White-rumped swifts have dark blackish-brown plumage otherwise. They utilize a range of nesting sites from tree cavities to walls and drain pipes.

Black Swift

True to their name, black swifts have uniform dark plumage with a purple-blue sheen. They breed along the Pacific coast of North America and winter in South America. Black swifts utilize humid sea caves and cliffs near the ocean for nesting and roosting sites.

Swifts vs. Swallows

Swifts are often confused with swallows as both are agile, aerial insectivores. However, there are some key differences:

Swift Habits and Behaviors

Swifts exhibit some interesting habits and behaviors adapted to their life in the air:

• Aerial sleeping – Swifts sometimes enter light torpor while roosting at high altitudes.
• Speedy flight – Some swifts can reach speeds of over 100 mph in fast flight.
• Screeching vocals – Swift calls are loud, piercing screeches, not melodious.
• Saliva nests – Swifts use sticky saliva to build nests in vertical sites.
• Long migrations – Some species migrate thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds.
• Mating in air – Swifts court and mate during flight, sometimes in large aerial swarms.

Swifts spend almost their entire lives on the wing. Their small legs and feet are adapted for perching and clinging, not walking on the ground. On the rare occasions they do land, swifts have difficulty taking off again.

Swift Diet

Swifts are aerial insectivores, meaning they catch and eat insects while in flight. The types of insects swifts prey upon include:

• Flies
• Mosquitoes
• Aphids
• Beetles
• Wasps
• Ants
• Moths
• Caddisflies

Swifts grab insects in their wide mouths as they fly rapidly through the air. They also drink by skimming low over water and scooping up water in their mouths.

Swift Reproduction

Swifts reach sexual maturity after 2 or 3 years. Courtship and mating occurs in flight. Swifts are monogamous, mating with one partner per breeding season. Nests are cup-shaped structures made from gathered materials such as twigs, grass, moss, feathers and spider webs, held together with the bird’s sticky saliva.

The female lays 2 – 7 white eggs which incubate for around 3 weeks before hatching. The young fledge the nest about a month after hatching. The parents continue feeding the young swifts for some time as they develop their flying skills.

Swift Migration

Many swifts migrate long distances in spring and fall between breeding areas and wintering grounds. Some migratory feats include:

• Common swifts – Breed across Eurasia, winter in Africa (5000 mile round trip)
• Chimney swifts – Nest in North America, winter in South America (3000+ mile trip)
• Needletail swifts – Migrate from Asia to Australia/Pacific islands (4000+ mile each way)

Swifts can travel remarkably fast for their body size, attaining speeds over 100 mph during migration with the help of tailwinds. They fly continuously day and night during migration, eating and sleeping on the wing.

Swift Conservation Status

A few swift species are considered threatened or endangered, while most have stable, healthy populations. Threats facing some swifts include:

• Habitat loss
• Nest site disturbances
• Use of toxic pesticides reducing insect prey
• Climate change affecting migration patterns and timing

Some species like the chimney swift are even benefiting from manmade structures which provide new nesting sites to replace lost natural cavities. Careful monitoring of swiftly breeding and migration patterns can help identify populations in need of more targeted conservation efforts.

Key Facts About Swifts

• There are around 100 species of swifts in the family Apodidae
• Found worldwide on all continents except Antarctica
• Known for speedy flight and constant aerial lifestyle
• Streamlined body shape with long, curved wings
• Small bills and wide mouths for catching insects
• Spend most time gliding and seizing prey on the wing
• Make shrill, loud, screeching vocalizations
• Build saliva nests on cliffs, trees, buildings
• Migrate long distances between breeding and wintering areas

Conclusion

In summary, swifts are agile, aerial birds uniquely adapted for life on the wing. Their speed, grace and acrobatics in the air are amazing to behold. Swifts spend almost their entire lives aloft, gliding, mating, eating, drinking and even sleeping without landing. While often lumped with swallows, swifts are distinct with more refined flight skills and loud, screeching calls. These dynamic birds continue to inspire with their aviation talents honed over millions of years.