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Chimney Swift
Adult--Dull grayish brown; the stiffened shafts of the tail feathers extend about half an inch beyond the vanes. Length--5.43.
Breeding Range--Throughout the Eastern States.
The nest is formed entirely of short sticks, fastened together and to the support with a glutinous substance from the birds' salivary glands (which shrink after the breeding season), and is nearly always placed in a chimney that is not in use; probably in more remote districts the nest is still built in hollow trees, as in former times, before chimneys were to be found throughout the country.
The eggs are white, and number from 4 to 6. Size--.80 x .50.
These birds may be easily identified by the dusky colour, thin, short, spinous tails, and by their flight, which consists of alternate strokes of the wings. (After careful observation I am practically sure that such is the case, though I believe this is a disputed point.) The twigs that form the nest are broken off while the bird is in flight.
The breeding season begins toward the end of May in the neighbourhood of New York. Possibly two sets of eggs are laid, as I have found a nest containing young birds not more than a day or two old on July 26th.