Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica

Identification Tips:

• Length: 5 inches Wingspan: 12.5 inches
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile similar to adult
• Small aerial bird with cigar-shaped body and crescent-shaped wings
• Short tail bluntly squared off
• Plumage sooty gray above with slightly paler rump
• Buff throat darkening to sooty gray on belly
• Underwings pale gray

Similar species:

All swallows have longer tails, usually with a notch or fork, and broader wings. Black Swift and White-throated Swift have forked tails and different patterning below. Vaux's Swift is extremely similar but is somewhat smaller, with shorter wings, a paler rump and throat, and a different call.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.