Chimney Swift

Migrating from as far as southern South America, chimney
swifts come to the eastern and central half of the United States to breed.
These small, sleek, bluish-black "bows and arrows" now grace most of our
landscapes. You may
have noticed them as they scour the skies for flying
insects. Their stiff, flickering movements alternate with long, graceful
sweeps of flight. The chimney swifts acrobatic movements and chattering
flight calls signal us to the onset of summer.
Chimney swifts, unable to perch or stand upright as songbirds
do, are uniquely equipped to roost only to vertical surfaces. Although
they will occasionally roost in the open, they prefer the safety of an
enclosed area such as a chimney, air shaft or abandoned building.