The common swift spends much of the year airborne while migrating between Europe and southern Africa.
Common swifts breed across Europe and parts of Asia, then migrate south through Africa to wintering areas. They catch flying insects in the air, drink by skimming over water, and can even sleep while flying, although the details of their sleep behavior are still studied.
The species is often confused with swallows and martins because of its streamlined shape and habit of feeding in the air. Swifts are not closely related to swallows; they belong to the order Apodiformes, alongside hummingbirds. Their curved, sickle-shaped wings and forked tail help distinguish them.
Migration timing varies by location, but birds generally leave European breeding grounds in late summer and return in spring. The common swift’s long-distance movement is part of a broader annual cycle involving breeding, moulting, feeding, and survival across two continents.