The Bird Called Chimney Swift

Chimney Swift is a medium-sized bird which belongs to Aprodidae specie. It has a measurement of about 12 to 15cm in length and a weight of 17g to 30g. Previously, Chimney swift once built its nest in the hollow of trees until deforestation came to an increase which saw the destruction of many forest which is their dwelling places .
This saw the birds coming to build their nest in the chimney. Their nest is built with small, short twigs glued together with saliva. Chimney swift adapts in Chimneys because it offers the same enclosed, protected and dark space as the hollow tree. It has curved thin and long wings which are longer than the bird’s tail when folded. It also has pointed wingtips. During flight, the wingtips enable the bird to fly to its destination without being dragged by the air. The inner part of the wing contains a short bone which joins with a longer bone in the outer part of the wing to enable the bird to flap its wings very quickly. It has a short and square tail which is measured at about 1.90–2.15 (4.8–5.5 cm) in length. It has shafts on all ten of its tail feathers which extend as much as 0.5 in (1.3 cm) beyond the vanes, ending in sharp, stiff points. These help the bird to support itself against vertical surfaces.

 Chimney swift holds its wings stiffly and changes its direction rapidly during flight. This bird stands vertically while holding firmly on a surface and cannot perch like other birds. It lives in nest made of twigs and saliva on a vertical surface. It builds its nest mostly in Chimney, hence the name Chimney swift. It feeds on airborne spiders and flying insects such as wasp, flies, whiteflies, ants, bees, stoneflies et cetera. 

Chimney swift has strong but short legs like other birds of the same species. Its toes are short and comprises of three forward toes and one backwards. It can also turn the back toe so as to enable it hold firmly on any surface. The Chimney swift is rarely seen alone. It hunts in groups and relocates periodically in flocks. After the breeding season, this bird sleeps together in groups of hundreds and sometimes thousands of birds. The Chimney swift does not rest frequently and when it is disturbed while resting, this bird claps its hands loudly twice against its body. If roosts of the birds are disturbed, this behavior can result in a loud "thundering" sound. The sound is thought to be the bird's way of scaring away potential predators.

 Chimney swift drinks on the wing and uses its beak to skim on the surface of the water. It also bathes on the wing, gliding above the surface of a body of water, briefly smacking its breast into the water, then flying off again, shaking its feathers as it goes. The male and female Chimney swift looks alike thereby making it difficult for people to differentiate the two. The male Chimney swift is a bit heavier than a female chimney swift. The bird has a deep set of eyes which are protected by feathers.

The chimney swift looks like the Vaux's swift, but is a little bit larger with relatively longer wings and tail. Its wings do not beat faster and it has a greater tendency to soar. It tends to be darker on the breast and rump than the Vaux's swift, though there is some overlap in feather coloring. It is heavier than the Vaux's swift. Its wings are proportionately narrower and show a pronounced bulge in the inner part of the body. The chimney swift is smaller, paler and shorter tailed than the black swift. In the Central America, it is most similar to the Chapman’s swift, but it is matte olive rather than glossy black. It also has a difference between its pale throat and the rest of its under parts when compared to Chapman’s swift which is more uniformly colored.

Chimney swift has an average life span is 4.6 years. During the breeding season, half of the chimney swift's forays occur within 0.5 km of its nest; however, it ranges up to 6 km away. While most of its food is seized following aerial pursuit, some are gathered from the leaves of trees. The chimney swift generally flies quite high, though it descends during cold or rainy weather. The chimney swift is a breeder which only one sexual partner and normally mates for life. It mates while clinging to a vertical surface near its nest. Chimney swifts engage in sexual intercourse daily, until the clutch is complete. The female Chimney swift lays 4–5 eggs. The eggs are oval in shape and are moderately glossy, smooth and white, and measure 20 mm × 13 mm. Each weighs nearly 10 percent of the female's body weight and hatches after 19 days of being incubated by both parents. Baby chimney swifts are helpless at birth. The young Chimney swifts which have just developed its flight feathers leave the nest after a month.

Chimney swift can cause a lot of damage to your chimney and also exposes you to diseases as it could be a carrier of micro organisms which can be dangerous to health. To keep this bird away from house, you must do a regular inspection of your Chimney. Swifts are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and so, if they are already in your house, you can call a professional who will remove them for you.