Do not perch horizontally – cling to vertical surfaces
Narrow tips on rectrices to help cling
Pamprodactyl – hallux can rotate to face forwards
Approximate Hatch Weights:
~1-1.5g at hatching
~14.5-21g by 10 days old
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Apodidae
Common Name: Swifts
Region: Eastern
Chick Type: Altricial
Down: Naked
Skin Color: Pink
Bill: Short and gray to black
Foot Type: Pamprodactyl
Gape: Pink
Gape Flanges: None
Iris: Dark brown
Legs and Feet: Pink to gray legs and feet
Video by Erin Whitmore, Audubon Sharon
Video by Andrea Aiuto
Video by Andrea Aiuto
Video by Brenda Varvarigos
Nest
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4340.jpeg)
Photo by Erin Whitmore, Audubon Sharon
Nest
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4343.jpeg)
Photo by Erin Whitmore, Audubon Sharon
Hatching
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42b4.jpeg)
Photo by Andrea Aiuto
Just Hatched
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/07/IMG_6958.jpeg)
Photo by Brenda Varvarigos
Just Hatched
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_433e.jpeg)
Photo by Erin Whitmore, Audubon Sharon
Just Hatched
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42b6.jpeg)
Photo by Andrea Aiuto
Just Hatched - 1g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/06/fullsizeoutput_3c5f.jpeg)
Photo by Kay Harrison
Just Hatched - 1g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/06/fullsizeoutput_3c68.jpeg)
Photo by Kay Harrison
Just Hatched - 1g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/06/fullsizeoutput_3c67.jpeg)
Photo by Kay Harrison
~1st Week - 4g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/12/IMG_3228.jpeg)
Photo from Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, scale in centimeters
~1st Week - 4g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2022/12/IMG_3236.jpeg)
Photo from Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, scale in centimeters
~1st Week - 6g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/06/fullsizeoutput_3c6f.jpeg)
Photo by Dee Ullrich
~1st Week - 6g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/06/fullsizeoutput_3c74.jpeg)
Photo by Dee Ullrich
~1st Week - 5.2g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/08/fullsizeoutput_4502.jpeg)
Photo by Kylee Schooley, The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week - 8.6g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/08/fullsizeoutput_4500.jpeg)
Photo by Kylee Schooley, The Wildlife Center of Virginia
~1st Week - 5g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/07/IMG_7148.jpeg)
Photo by Brenda Varvarigos
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/07/IMG_0785.jpeg)
Photo by Brenda Varvarigos
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/06/36054535_10214428889248513_4108524341933637632_n.jpg)
Photo by Nancy Eilen
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/06/36087523_10214429139734775_4146273840290332672_n.jpg)
Photo by Nancy Eilen
~1st Week - 8g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_422f.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - 8g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4234.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - 8g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4236.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - 8g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_4231.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~1st Week - 9.4g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/07/IMG_0663.jpg)
Photo by Paula Rodriguez, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~1st Week - 9.4g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/07/IMG_0664.jpg)
Photo by Paula Rodriguez, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42cb.jpeg)
Photo by Andrea Aiuto
~1st Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/07/37862625_10156308744676224_7372227246649507840_o.jpg)
Photo by Debbie Lefebre
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2961.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2949.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/09/106452758_556802618332314_3249705403478051063_n.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/09/106532337_295581351561083_8661193369233270640_n.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2606.jpg)
Photo by Jessica Zorge, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4d1a.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
~2nd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/12/fullsizeoutput_4d1d.jpeg)
Photo by Laura Kintz, WildCare Oklahoma
~2nd Week - avg. 18g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b04.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~2nd Week - avg. 18g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b03.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~3rd Week - 21g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42d5.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~3rd Week - 21g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42da.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~3rd Week - 21g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/07/fullsizeoutput_42d8.jpeg)
Photo by Nikki Becich, Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/FullSizeRender.jpg)
Photo by Annie Le, Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/08/fullsizeoutput_44dc.jpeg)
Photo by Primrose Nimnark, New England Wildlife Center
~3rd Week - avg. 16g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b06.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~3rd Week - avg. 16g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/02/fullsizeoutput_2b07.jpeg)
Photo by Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bb7.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/04/IMG_2909.jpg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic
~3rd Week - 19g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_5588.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~3rd Week - 19g
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2020/04/IMG_5590.jpeg)
Photo from Tufts Wildlife Clinic, grid squares = 1 inch
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/08/58862_111701782363095_1290478788_n.jpg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/08/375838_111701759029764_351866063_n.jpg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
~3rd Week
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2018/08/15060_111701775696429_1482618753_n.jpg)
Photo by Maureen Eiger, Help Wild Birds
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bba.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
>4 Weeks
![](https://sites.tufts.edu/babybirds/files/2019/11/fullsizeoutput_4bbd.jpeg)
Photo from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota