Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, even sleeping while flying.

The longer version

Swifts have short bodies and long scythe-shaped wings built for efficient fast flight, with tiny feet that cannot perch or walk well. They feed, mate and gather nesting material on the wing, and they drink and bathe by skimming across the water surface. Landing is awkward, so they cling to vertical surfaces instead.

Staying airborne for months means sleeping in flight, using short bursts of one-sided slow-wave sleep while gliding. Control slips for those few seconds but height is kept. Birds fitted with small data loggers have stayed aloft for many consecutive months, touching down only to breed.

Where this entry sits

Here you will find feathered trivia about flight, migration, nests, eggs, and the songs birds sing. Expect short surprising facts on penguins, owls, hummingbirds, and other familiar birds from gardens, forests, wetlands, and distant coastlines. The full list sits on the Birds page, where every entry is listed in order.