Swifts range in size from the pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes), which weighs 5.4 g and measures 9 cm (3.5 in) long, to the purple needletail (Hirundapus celebensis), which weighs 184 g (6.5 oz) and measures 25 cm (9.8 in) long.

The common swift (Apus apus) is a medium-sized bird, superficially similar to the barn swallow or house martin but somewhat larger, though not stemming from those passerine species, being in the order Apodiformes.

A bird best identified by silhouette, the smudge-gray Chimney Swift nimbly maneuvers over rooftops, fields, and rivers to catch insects. Its tiny body, curving wings, and stiff, shallow wingbeats give it a flight style as distinctive as its fluid, chattering call.

These striking black-and-white birds seem to defy physics as they dive, twist, and turn at incredible speeds, pursuing insects aloft. Courting birds make spectacular dives toward earth, one clinging to the back of the other, separating as they pull out of the plummet just above the ground.

This species has been claimed to be one of our fastest flying birds, and any observer who has seen them pass at close range will believe it. White-throated Swifts are very wide-ranging, probably foraging in the air many miles from their nesting sites at times.

The White-throated Swift, Vaux's Swift and the Black Swift are all native birds to the western USA and up into southern British Columbia, Canada. The swifts are the fastest flying passerines in North America and sometimes they are all but impossible to see because of their speed.

The range map depicts the boundary of the species' range, defined as the areas where the species is estimated to occur within at least one week within each season. eBird Data from 2007-2021. Estimated for 2021.

Habitat of the Swift. Different species of Swifts live across different areas across the world. Throughout their range, these birds live in a wide variety of habitats. They roost in a number of places, including hollow trees, caves, chimneys, rocky ledges, sea cliffs, and large trees.

The Common Swift is one of the smallest swift family members seen in North America. Usually seen west of the Rocky Mountain range from California to British Columbia.

Jul 12, 2023 · Common Swifts are 16–17 cm long with a wingspan of 38–40 cm and entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on their chins which is not visible from a distance. They have a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang.