Swifts (Apodidae)
Swift
Apus apus
- Length
- 17 cm
- Weight
- 40 g
- Clutch
- 2–3 eggs
- Incubation
- 19–20 days
- Fledging
- 37–56 days
- Broods
- 1 per year
- Nest box
- Swift box with a 65 × 30 mm entrance, 5 m+ up
Identification
- Scythe-shaped wings
- All dark
- Screaming flocks
Shrill screams.
Diet and garden feeding
Airborne insects.
- Does not visit feeders.
- Swift bricks and boxes under eaves are the single biggest help.
Nesting
Under roof tiles or in swift boxes.
Swifts by country
England
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Scotland
Summer visitor · nests June–July
Wales
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Northern Ireland
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Ireland
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Netherlands
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Belgium
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Germany
Summer visitor · nests May–July
France
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Denmark
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Sweden
Summer visitor · nests June–July
Norway
Summer visitor · nests June–July
Finland
Summer visitor · nests June–July
Spain
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Portugal
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Italy
Summer visitor · nests April–July
Austria
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Switzerland
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Poland
Summer visitor · nests May–July
Sources
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.