Chaetura pelagica

Identifying Features

Chimney swifts are 5" long with a 14" wingspan. They are dark gray in color.

Habitat & Range

Chimney swifts breeding range reaches across the eastern half of the United States and some of southeastern Canada. They spend the winter in South America.

Behavior

These birds spend much of their time flying. They will fly above feilds and in towns catching insects. They do not perch, and instead will cling to the sides of natural or man-made objects.

Their call is a hard, rapid chirp.

Life Cycle

Chimney swifts are seen in the Finger Lakes Region from April through October. During this time they will raise either 1 or 2 clutches of young, with up to 5 per clutch.

Featured image by Jim McCulloch.