Today, while watching a group of about 40 Chimney Swifts from my front porch flying around the tops of a tall oak and a black walnut, I noticed several of the birds stopping briefly, appearing to grab onto branches with their feet for a split second, wings reared back, in what appears to be foraging behavior. I'm guessing they were plucking insects from the leaves and branches of the trees. I have never seen this behavior. In the spring, I have seen them break off twigs for nest building, but have never seen them forage for insects from the treetops. More often than not, swifts are observed feeding in the open air, away from trees. I could not find any mention of this behavior in Bent's Life Histories, Stokes Bird Behavior or The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior. Interesting.


 
David A. Brinkman, M.Ed.
1631 Kellywood Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45238-4011


Please view my new blog at brinkmanbirds.blogspot.com

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