During June and July I have been sitting in my garden watching swifts (Apus apus), screeching as they dive, dart, spin and glide through the sky. Last month, on June 7 wildlife supporters marked “World Swift Day”. In combination of the marked day and the enjoyment of seeing them, I was prompted to read up on these enigmatic birds, there was clearly more to learn!
They are incredibly fast and tricky to photograph. Here is my amateur artist impression of a swift…
Where do swifts live?
Swifts are a migratory species. They fly to the UK during the spring and stay through the summer months before leaving to winter in sub-Saharan Africa. This journey is more than 6000 miles each way, one of the longest migration journeys undertaken by a bird species (RSPB, 2026). For comparison, Land’s End to John o’Groats is approximately 840 miles by car. Imagine making this trip 14 times in one year. Even more impressive is the fact that they spend the majority of their life in flight, even whilst sleeping, and only land to nest.
Where and when can I spot a swift in the Heatons?
In the Heatons you’ll likely spot swifts from May until August with dusk being one of the best times of day to see them. They fly high in they sky above and between the roof tops, often in groups. They are super fast fliers and can reach speeds of up to 69 miles per hour (RSPB, 2026). They have long pointed wings in the shape of a boomerang and a forked tail. You’ll probably hear them before you see them.
What do swifts sound like?
A swift’s call is high-pitched and sounds like a shrill “scream”. One summer I captured a slow-motion video of a group of swifts and the accompanying slowed-down audio was a cacophony of hauntingly eerie cries. I recommend trying this yourself! The Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) webpages include bird song and call recordings. Links below.
What’s on a swift’s menu?
Swifts eat flying insects, lots of them! To feed their young, a parent swift will use saliva to bind together insects in a pouch at the back of their throat. This bound parcel of insects is known as a bolus and can be made up of hundreds insects, potentially exceeding a 1,000 insects per bolus (Lancashire Wildlife Trust, 2026). Unfortunately declining insect populations, likely due to the use of pesticides and habitat loss, has adversely affected the swift population which relies on insects as a sole source of food (BTO, 2026).
Where do swifts nest?
Historically, swifts nested in the hollows of large trees, cliffs and crevices but overtime UK populations have come to rely on buildings for nesting (Woodland Trust, 2026) and return to the same nesting site each year (RSPB, 2026). Unfortunately, modern building techniques do not always include the small gaps used by swifts and gaps in older buildings are plugged in an effort to make our homes more insulated.
How has the loss of nesting sites and food source affected swifts?
The loss of nesting sites and food sources is thought to be behind the notable decline in UK swift populations. The RSPB estimates a decline of 62% between 1995 and 2021.
What can I do?
- Avoid pesticides in your garden and consider alternative methods to minimise the impacts of insects e.g. companion planting.
- Plant an insect friendly garden and keep the grass long in summer.
- Make your house a home for swifts by adding a swift box. The RSPB and wildlife trust both have resources to help you do this.
Want to learn more?
There is so much more to learn about swifts and I recommend finding out more from the following sources referenced in this post.…
https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/swift
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/swift
https://www.lancswt.org.uk/blog/fascinating-facts-about-swifts-and-how-you-can-help-them
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/birds/swift/
https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/08/23/migratory-bird-of-the-month-the-common-swift/