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Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Bird · family Apodidae · order Apodiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Chimney Swift
Photo: Adam Jackson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
43 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
14 years[4]

The Chimney Swift is a bird in the family Apodidae[5] that nests mainly in chimneys[6] and catches insects while flying[7]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe lists it as native in 43 US states and territories[1][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Chimney Swift G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N5B (Secure, breeding) in the United States[2][8]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[9]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[10]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[11].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[8] N5B (Secure (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[9] Vulnerable
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[10] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[11] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Chimney Swift lives

NatureServe lists the Chimney Swift as native in 43 US states and territories, from Maine and Florida in the east to Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas in the west[3]. California is on the list too, but NatureServe gives it a rank of SNA there[3][12]. Reports on GBIF are most numerous for Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Ohio and New York, but that follows observer effort, not how many birds live there[13].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S3BWIVermont: native, state rank S4BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4BNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank S3BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S3BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S5BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S3B,S5MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S3B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S4BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S5BRICalifornia: native, state rank SNACAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S4BCONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRBMOKentucky: native, state rank S5BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3BWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5BMDDelaware: native, state rank S3BDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2B,S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank S3BARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4BNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4BSCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4N,S5BDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNRBOKLouisiana: native, state rank S3BLAMississippi: native, state rank S5BMSAlabama: native, state rank S5BALGeorgia: native, state rank S3GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4BFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (43 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5BSecure (breeding)
ArkansasS3BVulnerable (breeding)
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
ConnecticutS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
DelawareS3BVulnerable (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BApparently Secure (nonbreeding), Secure (breeding)
FloridaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
GeorgiaS3Vulnerable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5BSecure (breeding)
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KentuckyS5BSecure (breeding)
LouisianaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
MaineS5BSecure (breeding)
MarylandS5BSecure (breeding)
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiS5BSecure (breeding)
MissouriSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MontanaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
New JerseyS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS2B,S4NImperiled (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
PennsylvaniaS3B,S5MVulnerable (breeding), Secure (migrant)
Rhode IslandS5BSecure (breeding)
South CarolinaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS3BVulnerable (breeding)
VermontS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
WisconsinS3BVulnerable (breeding)
WyomingS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records suburban, urban and aerial habitat for this bird[14]. It lives in both rural and city areas that have plenty of flying insects and good spots to roost and nest[6]. Most nests are inside chimneys, but it also uses other human-made structures such as barns and silos[6]. In nature it nests inside hollow trees and in Pileated Woodpecker cavities[6].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Chimney Swift eats insects, catching most of them while flying[7][15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% invertebrates[16]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 13 cm (5 in)[17]. It also gives a typical weight of 24 g[18]. Incubation takes 20 days in AnAge[19]. Females reach maturity at 365 days of age in AnAge[20]. NatureServe notes that most birds do not nest until they are two years old[21]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 15 years in the wild[22]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 14 years 0 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 13 cm (5 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 24 g (0.8 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[22] 15 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 14 years 0 months
Litter or clutch size[23] 4.5
Gestation or incubation[19] 20 days
Female maturity[20] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[15] Invertivore
Migration[24] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 100% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Chimney Swift is a long-distance migrant and is active by day[25][24]. It moves north from mid-March through May, often in small flocks[26]. It heads south in August and September in large flocks[26]. Eggs are laid from May through July[21]. Most GBIF records fall in May, June and July, which shows when people report the bird, not how many there are[27].

January: 39 recordsJanFebruary: 27 recordsFebMarch: 14,786 recordsMarApril: 365,752 recordsAprMay: 1,136,578 recordsMayJune: 596,943 recordsJunJuly: 461,982 recordsJulAugust: 415,152 recordsAugSeptember: 405,559 recordsSepOctober: 140,236 recordsOctNovember: 629 recordsNovDecember: 19 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[27].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January39
February27
March14,786
April365,752
May1,136,578
June596,943
July461,982
August415,152
September405,559
October140,236
November629
December19

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Chimney Swift as present in 138 park units[28]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 114 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, New York[13]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Chimney Swift endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide, while the IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[2][9].
Where does the Chimney Swift live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 43 US states and territories[3]. It lives in rural and urban areas with plenty of flying insects and places to nest[6].
What does the Chimney Swift eat?
It eats insects, mostly caught while flying[7][15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% invertebrates[16].
How big is a Chimney Swift?
NatureServe gives a typical length of 13 cm (5 in)[17]. It gives a typical weight of 24 g[18].
How long does a Chimney Swift live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 15 years in the wild[22]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 14 years 0 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Chimney Swift is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Chimney Swift: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Chimney Swift as native in 43 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Chimney Swift from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 14 years 0 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) is a bird in the family Apodidae, order Apodiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe notes on habitat for Chimney Swift. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe notes on food for Chimney Swift. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B (Secure (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  9. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Chimney Swift is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  11. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Chimney Swift (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Chimney Swift: Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Chimney Swift: Suburban/orchard, Urban/edificarian, Aerial. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 13 cm (5 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 24 g (0.8 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 20 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  21. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Chimney Swift. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 15 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  23. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4.5. AnAge
  24. NatureServe migration category for Chimney Swift: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on migration for Chimney Swift. NatureServe Explorer
  27. GBIF observation records of Chimney Swift in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  28. NPSpecies park lists recording Chimney Swift as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Adam Jackson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.