The Chimney Swift, which is in no way related to the Swallows, is seen in the North toward the end of April or early in May. From the last weeks of August until late in September, southward bound flocks may be seen, and then the bird has left us until Spring comes again.

Food: The Swifts feed entirely while flying. They eat small flying insects of many kinds, catching them chiefly in the early morning and late afternoon.

Feet: Seldom does the Swift alight upon any flat-topped object. Its characteristic perching place is upon some rough-surfaced tree or chimney where the small, weak feet cling to the wall and hold the bird in an upright position.

Tail: The tail of the Chimney Swift is used as a prop to aid the bird in holding fast to vertical surfaces. The feathers of this fan-shaped prop are spine-tipped.

Wings and Body: The body of the Swift is “cigar shaped.” The wings are slender though powerful and have long outer feathers that help him to fly for hours at a time.

Song: The Chimney Swift has no true song. His singing efforts result in a “chip-chip-chip” repeated over and over again, with a twitter-like rhythm, sometimes sounding “chippy-chippy-chippy-chip.”

Nest: The nest of this bird is an unusual structure made of twigs that are glued together with its glutinous saliva. It forms a shallow, saucer-shaped platform in which the small white eggs are laid. Before man-made chimneys offered nesting sites, the Swifts built in hollow trees.