Nest Type: Saucer platform
Nest Location: Chimney, tree hollow
Clutch Size: 3-6; avg. 4-5
Food: Insects
Foraging Guild: Aerial forager
The Chimney Swift's breeding range extends east of the Rocky Mountains from east-central
Saskatchewan to New Brunswick, south to eastern New Mexico and the Gulf Coast (DeGraaf et al.
1991). Throughout Minnesota, the species is an abundant summer resident, but is less common in the
state's northwest corner (Janssen 1987). The Chimmney Swift is a long-distance night migrant that
winters in Peru, northern Chile and northwest Brazil (Ehrlich et al. 1988). In Minnesota, the species is
a migrant that is seldom seen in the spring, but is occasionally encountered as large roosting flocks in
the fall (Janssen 1987). The Chimney Swift arrives in Minnesota during mid-April through late May
and leaves during mid-August through mid-October (Janssen 1987).
The Chimney Swift's breeding habitat is largely dependent on the availability of suitable nesting
sites (DeGraaf et al. 1991). Formerly found in habitats with mature, hollow trees, the species now
primarily occurs near towns and farms (DeGraaf et al. 1991, Brewer et al. 1991) where it uses
chimneys, air shafts, silos, and other suitable structures for nest sites (Harrison 1975). The Chimney
Swift also builds its nest in caves and tree hollows. Clutch size ranges from three to six eggs,
commonly four to five (Harrison 1975). The species primarily feeds on flying insects (DeGraaf et al.
1985) but will sometimes glean caterpillar from tree branches or leaves (DeGraaf et al. 1991).
Breeding Bird Survey data from 1965 to 1979 show the Chimney Swift population increased
slightly but significantly in the Eastern region and over the continent as a whole (Robbins et al. 1986).
Minnesota Breeding Bird Survey data from 1966 to 1990 show the Chimney Swift population to be
stable in the state (Janssen 1990).
The species appears to have converted to using urban and farm environments. Hence, most
silvicultural practices will be irrelevant and tolerated by this species. Forestry practices, however, that
leave mature, decayed trees may be highly beneficial to this species. It currently is relatively rare in
most forest environments, but it formerly was highly associated with landscapes with caves and old,
dead trees with suitable nest sites.