Common Swift
Apus apus
The Common Swift (Apus apus) is a common swift found in 140 countries, weighing about 38 g. The common swift 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.
About the Common Swift
The common swift 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. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution, reflecting similar contextual development. The swifts' nearest relatives are the New World hummingbirds and the Southeast Asian treeswifts.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Common swifts are 16–17 cm (6.3–6.7 in) long with a wingspan of 38–40 cm (15–16 in) 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. Their call is a loud scream in two different tone pitches, the higher of which issues from the female. They often form "screaming parties" during summer evenings, when 10–20 swifts will gather in flight around their nesting area, calling out and being answered by nesting swifts.
What the Common Swift sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, South Sudan, Bermuda, Brazil.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Watch the Common Swift on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Swift?
- Common swifts are 16–17 cm (6.3–6.7 in) long with a wingspan of 38–40 cm (15–16 in) and entirely blackish-brown except for a small white or pale grey patch on their chins which is not visible from a distance. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Swift?
- The Common Swift is a small sized bird weighing about 38 g.
- Where can you see a Common Swift?
- The Common Swift occurs in 140 countries, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany.
- What does a Common Swift sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Swift on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Swift?
- The Common Swift is most easily confused with the Little Swift, the House Swift and the White-rumped Swift.
- Is the Common Swift endangered?
- The Common Swift is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Swift for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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