Common Swift
Apus apus
Least Concern
The Common Swift lives almost its entire life in the air! They eat, sleep, and even mate while flying. Young swifts may fly for 2-3 years straight before landing for the first time to nest!
Swifts have tiny legs and feet - their scientific name means 'without feet'. They can sleep while flying by shutting down half their brain at a time!
Size
About the size of a swallow
Small (15-25 cm)
Wingspan: 45 cm
Weight: 45 g
Colors
brown
white
Habitat
urban
Diet
insects
Fun Facts
- ✨They can fly for years without landing!
- ✨They sleep while flying by shutting off half their brain!
- ✨Their legs are so weak they can't take off from the ground.
- ✨They fly up to 500 miles a day catching insects.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great news! This bird is doing well. There are lots of them in the wild, and they have safe places to live and find food.
Population trend: decreasing 📉