Bird✓ Protected species
Swift
Apus apus
What to do NOW
- 1Pick it up gently from the ground, holding it between cupped hands
- 2A swift on the ground cannot take off by itself: this is not abandonment, it is a physical trait (legs too short to launch)
- 3If adult and apparently uninjured: hold in cupped hands for 15–20 minutes to warm it, then take to a high place (first-floor window or above) and open hands pointing skyward — if healthy it will fly
- 4If it does not fly or is a juvenile: ventilated dark box, 20–22°C
- 5Contact a specialist CRAS — swifts have very specific dietary needs
NEVER do this
- Do not give water with a syringe or dropper — pulmonary aspiration is almost certain and lethal
- Do not feed without CRAS instructions: the diet is live insects only (crickets, mealworms) in precise proportions
- Do not keep in an open cage or with other birds
- Do not throw from ground level — it needs height to build gliding speed
- Do not keep at temperatures above 25°C
Important note
Swifts cannot eat while stationary: they catch insects in flight. Manual feeding (July–August, juvenile season) requires specific technique. Without proper care, a juvenile dies within 48 hours. Specialist CRAS handle dozens of swifts in summer — always contact them before attempting anything.
Legal protection
Protected by Law 157/1992. Removing nests or disturbing nesting (even in private buildings) is prohibited.
Also known as
- common swift
- pallid swift
- alpine swift
Similar animals
Full guide
Found a swift on the ground? Here's what to do (and why you can't wait)
Swifts physically cannot take off from flat ground — it's anatomy, not illness. But that means every swift found on the ground needs help. A quick summer rescue guide.
Read the guide →
Did you find a swift right now?
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