| Group | Swifts |
| Code | ABNUA03010 |
| Order | Apodiformes |
| Family | Apodidae |
| Author | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Rank | G5 (definitions) |
| Occurrence | SM (definitions) |
| Scale | N (definitions) |
| Western UP | all |
| Eastern UP | all |
| Northern LP | all |
| Southern LP | all |
Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes
Nesting Habitat:
Man-made Structures (chimneys/silos)
or Snags (large and hollow)
or Living Cavity Trees (large and hollow)
Foraging occurs across the NEIGHBORHOOD
view decision rule term definitions
| Habitats | Regen | Sap | Pole | Sm Saw | Lg Saw | Uneven |
| Aspen | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Paper Birch | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Oak | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Assorted Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Spruce/Fir | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Hemlock | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Jack Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Red Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Conifer Plantations | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Mixed Upland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Upland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Swamp Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bottomland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Tamarack | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern White Cedar | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Black Spruce | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Non-Forested | none | |||||
| Special Features | Man-made Structures, Snags, Living Cavity Trees |
Habitat: This species is a bird of the air. Feeding on small flying insects from sunrise to sunset, it is on the wing constantly, except when incubating or brooding. Swifts roost and nest today in chimneys, air shafts, deep wells, silos, open barns, and similar buildings. Some are still known to nest in hollow trees as they did before human settlement.
Considering their abundance in the relatively unpopulated Upper Peninsula, it seems likely that many swifts there may still nest in hollow trees, tree cavities, or caves. The Atlas Habitat Survey data from the Lower Peninsula showed virtually all observations made in residential and urban settings, whereas this was true of only 2 of 14 of Upper Peninsula observations. Cottrille observed a pair of swifts apparently nesting in a deserted cavity of a Pileated Woodpecker some 10 m from the ground, in a live yellow birch tree in Schoolcraft Co. Bodies of water attract flying swifts because of the availability of flying insects.
Habitat: The vicinity of buildings in towns, cities, farms.
Special Habitat Requirements: Chimneys.
It once nested in hollow trees, but today it nests in chimneys or other structures.
Habitat: Open sky, especially over cities and towns. Forages in the sky over any kind of terrain, wherever there are flying insects. Now most common over towns and cities; within its range, few forests remain with hollow trees large enough to serve as nest sites.
Diet: Flying insects. Feeds on a wide variety of insects, including beetles, flies, true bugs, and moths; also spiders. Will concentrate at times on swarming insects, such as emergences of winged adult ants.
Nest: Often nests in colonies. Breeding pair is often assisted by an extra adult helper. Site is inside chimney or similar hollow tower; usually well down from opening, in well-shaded area. Originally nested (and sometimes still does) inside large hollow trees. Nest is shaped like half a saucer, made of twigs glued together with the birds saliva. Adults break off short dead twigs from trees while zooming past in flight.