Perch Supply
Swifts (Apodidae)

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica. Aerial insects only.

Swifts (Apodidae)Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
Scientific name
Chaetura pelagica
Length
4.7–5.9 in
Weight
0.6–1.1 oz
Nest
Half-cup of twigs glued with saliva inside chimneys
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
4–5 eggs
Incubation
16–21 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Sooty cigar-shaped body
  • Long, stiff, scythe-like wings
  • Never perches — clings inside chimneys

Voice

Rapid, high twittering overhead.

Diet and feeding

Aerial insects only.

What do chimney swifts eat?

Chimney Swifts by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaSummer breederApril–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MaineSummer breederJune–July
ManitobaSummer breederJune–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
New BrunswickSummer breederJune–July
New HampshireSummer breederJune–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
QuebecSummer breederJune–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederApril–July
VermontSummer breederJune–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do chimney swifts eat?

Aerial insects only. At feeders: .

How big is a Chimney Swift?

4.7–5.9 in long and 0.6–1.1 oz.

Do chimney swifts use birdhouses?

No. Half-cup of twigs glued with saliva inside chimneys.

Sources

  1. Chimney Swift — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Chimney Swift life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Chimney Swift — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.