Perch Supply
Diet

What do chimney swifts eat?

Aerial insects only.

Swifts (Apodidae)Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica

Spring and summer diet

  • Flies, beetles, ants and aphids in flight

Fall and winter diet

  • Winters in the Amazon basin

Best feeder foods

    Leave an uncapped masonry chimney open April–October, or build a swift tower; populations have fallen by roughly two-thirds since 1966.

    Frequently asked

    What do chimney swifts eat?

    Aerial insects only.

    What is the best food to feed chimney swifts?

    .

    What do chimney swifts eat in winter?

    Winters in the Amazon basin.

    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.