As swift as Mo Farah…
Swifts are known for their agility, endurance, and efficiency; they are supreme flyers and hold the title of the fastest bird in level flight, reaching speeds of almost 70 miles per hour.
They spend most of their life in the air – feeding, drinking, sleeping and even mating on the wing – only landing in order to nest. In its lifetime, a Swift can fly around four million miles – that’s like flying to the moon and back eight times!
Take our February Half Term Family Swift Challenge in partnership with the RSPB and discover more about the athletic prowess of this migratory hero, who make cities like ours their home.

Help Swifts in Your Neighbourhood with the RSPB
Between 1995 and 2020 Swift numbers plummeted by 60% in the UK and there are now thought to be around 59,000 breeding pairs left here. As a result of their decline, Swifts have joined the UK’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern and the IUCN European Red List, indicating that the species is threatened and officially at risk of extinction.
There are lots of practical ways that you can help Swifts in your neighbourhood, whether you’re looking for quick and easy actions or you’d like to get involved in a bigger project. Learn more below or to get more involved contact Jamie Murphy, RSPB Senior Conservation Officer West Midlands jamie.murphy@rspb.org.uk
This is a project delivered by Birmingham Settlement in partnership with the RSPB, made possible with funding from Natural England.


