Black Swift

The Black Swift is the largest North American swift, and it also outsizes all swallows in
the Vancouver area. One of the positive aspects of approaching summer storms in
Vancouver is that the low pressure systems force this bird low over the city where it
catches flying insects. During warm, clear days, it is a challenging bird to locate because
it forages at such a height that it appears as a mere speck against the blue sky.
This bird breeds in B.C. but because it nests on remote, moist, rocky crevices only a
few nesting sites have been confirmed. Black Swifts appear to time nesting so that
their young can take advantage of the abundance of flying ants available in August
and early September.

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