After a long winter, swifts always return home. These birds inhabit almost the entire globe, not only in rural areas but also within city limits. They are often confused with swallows, as they are very similar in appearance. When do they return, what do they look like, and what do they eat?
Description of the Black Swift: Photo
Swifts are among the most widespread birds on Earth. They live on every continent except Antarctica and some oceanic islands. They are small birds. with a dense and strong bodyThe slightly elongated body is topped by a broad, flat head with a short neck. The bird's beak is very short, weak, and triangular, flattened at the tip. The jaws are deeply split, allowing the beak to open as wide as possible.
Swifts have narrow, curved wings resembling sabres. The common swift, or tower swift, can measure up to 18 cm in body size with a 40 cm wingspan. Its wing length reaches 17 cm, and its tail length is 8 cm. Its body weight ranges from 90 to 110 grams. Its plumage is dark brown with a greenish tint. Its chin and throat are adorned with a white collar, its beak is black, its feet are light brown, and its eyes are dark brown. If you look closely at a photo of a common swift, you'll see that it bears a strong resemblance to a swallow. In fact, they share a similar appearance and similar lifestyles.
Swifts are larger than swallows. They have short legs, allowing them to cling comfortably and firmly to steep surfaces. They spend most of their lives flying, because They are practically invulnerable in flight.On the ground they can become prey to predators, so they rarely descend to the surface of the earth.
Habitat and lifestyle
This bird species migrates migratoryly. In summer, they settle in large numbers in Western Siberia, China, and as far as Spain. In the northern part of the planet, swifts choose Finland, Norway, and the subarctic zones of Russia as nesting sites. Common swifts breed their offspring. are bred in the southern territories:
- Algeria;
- Israel;
- Lebanon;
- Morocco:
- Middle East.
The birds winter in southern Africa and at the equator. This is where they feel most comfortable. Swifts feel most at ease in flight. They always fly swiftly, and to turn, they make a big turnA distinctive feature of the black swift is the fact that, while in flight, the bird can:
- There is;
- mate;
- sleep.
There's no other bird in the world that can do this. They can spend 2-4 years in the air without ever landing on the ground. During the nesting season, they are forced to build nests to raise their young. These birds generally live in flocks and always nest in colonies.
Swifts have four toes pointing outward, making it difficult for them to maintain balance while sitting on the ground. They cannot move, such as jump or walk, on their feet. For this reason, swifts are always in flight to protect themselves. These birds are considered the fastest because Their flight speed reaches 120 km/h, and swallows can reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Swifts are always active from early morning until evening. Their lifespan is about 20 years.
Nutrition
Weather conditions greatly influence the lifestyle of swifts. This also applies to their diet. They are dependent on the environment and its temperature. Their activity and body temperature depend on their diet. If swifts have nothing to eat, their body temperature can drop to 20OFor this reason, birds often enter a state of "torpor." This hibernation is necessary for birds to conserve their remaining strength in the event of a food shortage. Swifts can remain in this motionless state for several days. Their state will depend on weather conditions. This is especially acute during rainy weather, as there are no insects in the air.
While in flight, birds catch insects like a net when weather conditions are favorable. Birds eat small flying insectsWhen food is scarce, adults fly several kilometers to find food. During this time, the chicks remain in their nests and hibernate until their parents bring them food. These flights are called weather-dependent migrations. Winter migration depends on weather conditions. If the weather is unfavorable, swifts may migrate for the winter in August due to food shortages.
Reproduction
Swifts choose tree hollows, caves, cliffs, and burrows for nesting. The nesting location will depend on the birds' habitat. They can nest in mountains, forests, cities, and deserts. Swifts are known for their devotion and mate for life. Parents build the nest. they extract building materials on the flyThese could be:
- twigs;
- feathers;
- plant fiber.
The birds pick up all this on the fly. After wintering, they return to their original location and settle in the old nests to breed. It takes about a week to build one nest. The female incubates the eggs for 16-22 days, during which time the male forages for food. The female can lay eggs. from 1 to 4 pieces per clutch.
The hatched chicks are completely helpless and remain in the nest continuously for 33-39 days. The number of days is always dependent on weather conditions. The caring parents try to feed their offspring several times a day with a mixture of saliva and insects. When the offspring are ready for independent life, they fly away from the nest forever.
