Chimney Swift

1
Chimney Swift
Identification
Feeding and Migration
Distribution and Habitat
Reproduction
References
Fun Facts
Anatomy
Chaetura pelagica

• http//www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGui
  de/Chimney_Swift.htmlmap

Website created by Maryville College
Undergraduate David Wilson. Spring 2007
2
Identification
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• Often described as a cigar with wings
• Wings are swept-back
• Have a stubby tail
• Brown to black in color
• Often resemble bats in flight
• Song is a fast twittering type noise
• Click to play the Chimney Swift Call

Courtesy of Hiltonpond (pic5c)
3
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Red Indicates where most Chimney swifts were seen
around MC campus
Click for MC STUDY
4
Feeding and Migration
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• In Pursuit
• Swifts use a method called sweeping to feed. The
  Chimney Swift actively pursue insects in flight.
  In fact, they very rarely land.
• Diet
• Consists of a variety of flying insects,
  sometimes in swarms
• Migration Patterns
• The Chimney Swift winters in Peru, but migrates
  in late spring.
• Swifts migrate during the day, feeding as they
  migrate.

Courtesy of purplemartin.org (pic 1)
5
Distribution and Habitat
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• For Habitat Description, click Here
• For National Distribution Map Click Here
• For Tennessee Counts and East TN Abundance Click
  Here
• For Maryville College Distribution Study, Click
  Here

6
Habitat
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• Chimney Swifts historically lived in hollowed out
  tree trunks
• They now can often be found in barns, wells,
  clefts of buildings and of course chimneys from
  which they get their name

Courtesy of Hiltonpond (pic. 5a)
RETURN TO DISTRIBUTION
7
National Distribution
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• Chimney Swifts winter in Peru
• During breeding season, Chimney Swifts venture as
  far northward as lower Canada and Westward into
  Texas.

RETURN TO DISTRIBUTION
8
Regional Abundance in TN
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• Populations of Chimney Swifts have slowly been
  declining in Tennessee
• There have also been declining numbers of Chimney
  Swifts arriving in the United States Each Year

Figure representing decline of Chimney Swift
populations in Tennessee from 1966 to 2001
(pgt.001) Figure Courtesy of http//www.mbr-pwrc.us
gs.gov/cgi-bin/rtena23.pl?82039
The Graph to the right reveals when the Chimney
Swifts Migrated in. Prior to April 25th, no
Chimney Swifts were counted in East Tennessee. To
see more recent distribution on MC Campus, click
here
Figure representing Seasonal Abundance of Chimney
Swifts for Spring 2007.
RETURN TO DISTRIBUTION
9
MC Chimney Distribution Study
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• Goal Identify buildings that house most chimney
  swifts on campus
• Survey Dates May 5th-7th, 2007
• Method Each main campus building was observed
  for five minutes starting at 600pm each day.
  Number of chimney swifts observed around a
  building during this 5 minute period were
  recorded.
• RESULTS

10
Reproduction
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• Chimney Swifts copulate in the air during
  breeding season Mid-May
• They have salivary glands that secrete a
  glue-like material. They use this material to
  support their vertical nests.
• Nests are made from twigs on the top of trees
  grabbed by the swifts in mid-air.
• A pair of Chimney Swifts often have helpers to
  take care of incubating and feeding the young.
• For more information on their eggs and offspring,
  click HERE

Photos courtesy of South Carolina DNR and Paul
Noll (see pic. 6 and 7)
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References
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Able, K.P. 2004. Birds on the Move Flight and
Migration. In Handbook of Bird Biology (S.
Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr, and R. Bonney. Eds)
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ithaca,
NY Alcock, J. 2004. Understanding Bird Behavior.
In Handbook of Bird Biology (S. Podulka, R.
Rohrbaugh, Jr, and R. Bonney. Eds) The Cornell
Lab of Ornithology. Ithaca, NY Baicich, P.J.,
and C.J. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the Nests,
Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. 2nd
Edition. Academic Press San Diego
California. Elphick, C., Dunning, J.B., Jr.,
Sibley, D.A. eds. 2001. National Audubon Society.
The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior.
Chanticleer Press inc. New York, New
York Evans, H.E., and J.B. Heiser. 2004. Whats
Inside Anatomy and Physiology. In Handbook of
Bird Biology (S. Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr, and
R. Bonney. Eds) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Ithaca, NY McGowan, K.J. 2004. Introduction The
World of Birds. In Handbook of Bird Biology (S.
Podulka, R. Rohrbaugh, Jr, and R. Bonney. Eds)
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ithaca,
NY http//www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/rtena23.p
l?82039
PICTURE REFERENCES
12
Photos
Click for Home

• 1
• purplemartin.org/species/chimneyswift.html
• flying bird on identification page and feeding
  page
• 2
• http//www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/wildspace/media/ma
  inpic/large/CHSW.jpg
• nest with babies and mother on offspring page
• 3
• avesphoto.com/website/NA/species/SWFCHM-2.htm
• bird in flight as link to home page
• 4
• http//www.wildforlife.org/Gallery/Chimney_Swift_F
  ledglings.html
• bird fledglings on offspring page
• 5a-b
• http//www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek010808.html
• A) chimney swift pictures of birds in fireplace
• B) Pictures of leg with band
• C) photo of bird face on ID page
• 6
• http//www.dnr.sc.gov/news/Yr2006/july17/july17_sw
  ift_pic.html

13
FUN FACTS
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• Chimney Swifts glue their nests to the sides of
  chimneys
• They do almost everything in flight, from feeding
  to courting, to breeding.
• Some nest in colonies. Sometimes, hundreds can be
  seen coming from a single chimney.
• Some nesting pairs are lucky enough to have
  helper birds to raise the young

14
The Offspring
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• The Chimney Swifts egg is usually small and a
  slightly glossy white. They lay between 3 and 6
  eggs.
• A nesting pair and their helpers incubate the egg
  for 19 days
• The eyes open at 14 days after hatching
• The offspring are able to leave the nest after 28
  days.

RETURN TO REPRODUCTION
15
Interesting Anatomy
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• Swifts have swept-back wings that allow for great
  speed.
• Chimney Swifts are very well equipped for flight.
  However, they have very weak feet that dont
  allow them to run, hop, or even perch properly.
• They have what is known as a Pamprodactyl type
  foot, with four toes all facing forward. With
  these toes, they are able to grasp vertical
  ledges.

Courtesy of Hiltonpond (pic. 5b)