home     galleries     new     equipment     links     about    contact


Common swift        Images © Mark A. Chappell

Swifts are among the best-named of all birds.   They are refined, high-speed, highly aerial insect hunters, specialized for fast and nearly continuous flight -- some species are reported to cover hundreds of kilometers per day.   These are common swifts, found throughout much of Europe during the spring and summer when insects are abundant.   Commons swifts breed in tree holes in wilderness areas, but are perfectly willing to use buildings as nest sites.   As they fly, they often emit high-pitched screams that may be echoed by roosting swifts.   These birds were photographed (with difficulty) near Bialowieza, Poland, as they cruised around buildings inspecting roof tiles for prospective nest sites.

  • Canon 1D3, 800 mm lens (2009)