The common swift (Apus apus) is a medium-sized bird, similar in appearance to swallows but belonging to the order Apodiformes. Its name comes from Latin, meaning “without feet,” as they have very short legs used primarily for clinging to vertical surfaces. Swifts rarely land on the ground and can spend up to ten months flying continuously.
Common swifts measure 16–17 cm long, with a wingspan of 38–40 cm. They are mostly blackish-brown, with a small white patch on their chins that is hard to see from afar. Their call consists of a loud scream, often heard in “screaming parties” during summer evenings.
Nesting typically occurs in woodpecker holes or man-made structures, where they build nests using airborne materials bonded with saliva. Swifts often mate for life and return to the same nesting sites each year. They feed on insects while in flight, and some individuals can go ten months without landing. Their summer breeding range extends from Portugal to Siberia and Northern Africa, migrating to Africa for the winter.
