Photo: Adam Jackson / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) — Swifts of North America.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) is a member of the Apodidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 23.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Apodidae Swifts
- Genus Chaetura
- Species pelagica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apodidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chimney Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Chimney Swift is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) belongs to the Apodidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA sc, se Canada and c, e USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.6 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 4.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chimney Swift?
The Chimney Swift is a small bird that weighs around 23.6 g.
Where does the Chimney Swift live?
The Chimney Swift is found across North America with a range covering NA sc, se Canada and c, e USA, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Chimney Swift belong to?
The Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Chimney Swift eat?
The Chimney Swift is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chimney Swift migrate?
The Chimney Swift is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Chimney Swift endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Chimney Swift make?
1 real field recording of the Chimney Swift — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chimney Swift's range?
The Chimney Swift has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Apodidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
More in Swifts
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern