Trekking for nearly a day on a plane to Australia sounds exhausting. But it’s nothing compared to the incredible journey of the common swift, a bird that can fly for nearly 10 straight months without landing!
Most of us get restless after just a few hours of sitting still. Imagine holding your arms out for months. This remarkable feat was hinted at by Welsh ornithologist Ronald Lockley back in the 1970s. Fast forward to 2016, and researchers from Lund University in Sweden confirmed his theory by tracking 13 adult common swifts with tiny data loggers that monitored their movements.
They found that the swifts mostly stayed airborne throughout the year. These birds only touched down for about two months, primarily for breeding. Some experienced incredible endurance, flying for the entire 10 months of migration from Sweden to the Sahara and back. That’s a long time to be aloft for a small bird weighing around 40 grams (about 1.4 ounces)!
According to study author Anders Hedenström, the difference in flight behavior might relate to the birds’ feathers. Swifts that landed had not molted their wings, while those that stayed in the air had newly developed flight feathers. This suggests their physical condition and parasites might affect how long they can fly without stopping.
But how do they manage to stay up there for so long? Common swifts have evolved to be highly effective flyers. Their streamlined bodies and long wings allow them to glide with minimal energy. Hedenström notes that these adaptations help them save energy during extended flights, and they often snack on airborne insects for extra fuel.
Interestingly, while humans might nap on long flights, it’s unclear if swifts do the same. They typically fly to altitudes of around 2-3 kilometers (1.2-1.9 miles) at dusk and dawn. Could they be catching some Z’s while gliding? Hedenström speculates it’s possible, but there’s no definitive proof yet.
The research sheds light on the fascinating capabilities of these birds. The study was published in Current Biology in 2016, and since then, our appreciation for these flying marvels has only grown. The common swift is not just a bird; it’s a symbol of endurance in nature.
With what we know today, it’s clear that the common swift has earned its dedicated fans. If you’re curious about avian wonders or want to dive deeper into bird migrations, check out authoritative sources on ornithology, like BirdLife International.
