Chimney Swift

Chimney Swift ( Chaetura pelagica )

The chimney swift ( Chaetura pelagica ) is an American sailor bird.

Features

The 13 cm long chimney sailor has a gray-brown plumage, which is colored as on the bottom to the top darker. It has long, slender wings and a short, blunt tail.

Dissemination

The bird breeds in eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida and draws for the winter to the upper Amazon basin in eastern Peru.

Behavior

The chimney sailor hunts usually a day for open areas after flying insects and studied at night resting places, where often gets together a larger number of sociable birds.

Breeding biology

While in the past the bird has nested in tree cavities and crevices, it breeds today are often in open fireplaces. The cemented with saliva half shell nest is made ​​of small branches and other plant material such as straw, built and attached to shady spots on the wall. The one to five eggs are incubated by both parents alternately birds for about three weeks. Not brooding adult birds often help feed the young birds.