Common swift

The common swift (Apus apus) is a migratory bird native to Europe and much of Asia. Its long, sickle-shaped wings suit a life spent almost entirely in flight outside the breeding season.

Aerial locomotion: Movement through the air by flying or gliding. The swift’s long wings and streamlined body are specialized for sustained flight.
Bird migration: The seasonal movement of birds between breeding and nonbreeding areas. Common swifts migrate between Eurasian breeding grounds and African nonbreeding areas.
Pallid swift: A swift species of warmer regions, similar in appearance to the common swift but paler and often larger. It can be mistaken for a common swift where their ranges overlap.
Swift conservation: Actions and research aimed at maintaining healthy swift populations and their habitats. The species depends on both suitable nesting cavities and abundant aerial insects.
Insectivory: A diet consisting primarily of insects and other arthropods. Swifts catch airborne prey while flying, often gathering it into food boluses for their chicks.
Geolocator: A lightweight tracking device that estimates an animal’s location from daylight timing. Geolocators have helped establish the broad migration routes of common swifts.
Alpine swift: A large swift found in mountainous and urban regions across parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its larger size and pale underparts distinguish it from the common swift.
Nest-site loss: The reduction of places available for animals to breed or shelter. Sealing roof gaps during renovation can remove long-used swift nesting cavities.
Apodidae: The swift family, a group of small, fast-flying birds adapted to aerial life. The common swift’s flight and nesting traits reflect adaptations shared across this family.
Bird ringing: The marking of birds with numbered rings to study movement, survival, and life history. Ring recoveries document swift movements and returns to breeding colonies.

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