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The books are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.

Seabirds page

Swifts

Regular UK terns

Common Swift
Apus apus

Occasional visitors

Little Swift
Apus affinis

Alpine Swift
Apus melba

Pacific Swift
Apus pacificus

Pallid Swift
Apus pallidus

Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica

White-throated Needletail
Hirundapus caudacutus

Worldwide

There are approximately 100 species in the Apodidae family worldwide. These are swifts, swiftlets, spinetails and needletails.

These are closely related to the treeswifts of the family Hemiprocnidae. There are 4 species of treeswift.

Swift Summers: My Life with the Common Swift

Mark Walker

"The Common Swift is an aerial specialist rarely coming to the ground. This means they have been little studied. This book relates the author's time spent studying these special birds between 2006-2011 at a nesting colony where he had unique access. The author has tried to convey information about swifts in a more personal and interesting style than is the case in scientific texts."

Swiftlets of Borneo: Builders of Edible Nests

Lim Chan Koon and Earl Of Cranbroom

2nd edition

2014

"Since the close of the 16th century AD, the edible nests of swiftlets have aroused the perplexed curiosity of European travellers to South-east Asia, while at the same time providing one of the most important constituents of traditional Chinese medicine. For both cultures — western and eastern — this book clarifies the nature of these nests, the troglodytic lives of the birds that build them, and the exploitation of this highly valuable natural resource. Successively, and together, the two authors have studied these matters for 55 years, from Sarawak through the length and breadth of Borneo and beyond. Borneo is now the world’s most important source of wild edible nests. These are built by four species of swiftlets, three of which echolocate while the fourth does not. This significant difference is reflected in details of the birds’ breeding cycles, elucidated in full for the first time in these pages. With this clear understanding, it is at last possible to recommend procedures, now proven by the lead author’s work to be effective, for the sustainable management of this unique wildlife resource. There is, at last, real hope for successful programmes of sustainable management. The advice is contained within these pages!."

Swifts

J. Glenday, R. Summerton, A. Lolley and D. Ramsay

2010

An 24 page anthology of poetry and prose inspired by Swifts together with a brief life history of the Common Swift.

Chimney Swifts: America's Mysterious Birds above the Fireplace

Paul & Georgean Kyle

Texas A&M University Press

2005

"From the curious sounds of baby swifts chattering in the chimney to the awe-inspiring sight of birds entering their roost at dusk, like smoke swirling back into the flue, Chimney Swifts have captured the imagination of many generations of North Americans. These sleek birds with crescent-shaped wings and acrobatic flight patterns migrate to North America from the Amazon River Basin each spring to breed and raise their young. But by the late 1980s, changes in chimney construction and homeowner attitudes had contributed to a major decline in the numbers of Chimney Swifts. Authors Paul and Georgean Kyle have worked ceaselessly in an attempt to alter that trend. The Kyles' eight-acre homestead has become a world-renowned Chimney Swift sanctuary and research station, with more than a dozen Chimney Swift towers of various designs located throughout their property. The swifts return each spring to many of these towers, where they rear their young and where their home life is observed and recorded in previously undocumented detail. In Chimney Swifts, the Kyles share the knowledge they have gained, providing readers with an unprecedented peek into the secret life of these beneficial, insect-eating birds. With a non-technical narrative, numerous photos, and original drawings, they explore Chimney Swift natural history and provide practical guidelines for homeowners to coexist peacefully with these remarkable spring and summer guests."

Chimney Swift Towers

Paul & Georgean Kyle

Texas A&M University Press

2005

"Chimney Swifts, birds that nest and roost in chimneys, have been historically abundant in North America. But by the late 1980s, the number of swifts migrating to North America from the Amazon River Basin had declined. A growing number of people across North America are now constructing nesting towers and conducting Chimney Swift conservation projects in their own communities. With Chimney Swift Towers, concerned bird conservationists have a step-by-step guide to help them create more habitat for these beneficial, insect-eating birds. Chimney Swift experts Paul and Georgean Kyle give directions for building freestanding wooden towers, wooden kiosk towers, masonry towers, and other structures. Included are: design basics; lists of materials needed; useful diagrams and photographs; and detailed instructions on site preparation, tower construction, installation, and maintenance; Anyone with basic woodworking or masonry skills and an interest in wildlife conservation will find this publication helpful."

The Museum Swifts

Andrew Lack and Roy Overall

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

2002

Swifts have nested in the tower of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History for many years. David Lack started a research programme in 1947 to study the swifts nesting in the tower. He published an account of this work, Swifts in a Tower, 1956. The Museum Swifts is a revised and updated edition of this original publication by Andrew Lack, the son of David Lack, and Roy Overall who has monitored the Museum swifts since 1962.

Swiftlets of Borneo: Builders of Edible Nests

Lim Chan Koon and Earl Of Cranbroom

2002

"The first book to clearly study the complicated ecology of these birds. With chapters on exploitation, conservation, and birds'-nest cave management. Since the close of the 16th century AD, the edible nests of swiftlets have roused the perplexed curiosity of European travellers to South-east Asia, while at the same time providing one of the most important constituents of traditional Chinese medicine. For both cultures-western and eastern-this book clarifies the nature of these nests, the troglodytic lives of the birds that build them, and the exploitation of this highly valuable natural resource. Borneo is now the world's most important source of wild edible nests. These are built by three species of swiftlets. Regional differences in management of swiftlets in the various limestone caves of Borneo are reviewed. The authors also describe the emergence of swiftlet house-farming, which they see as inevitable. For many readers this section of the book will be of great interest, outlining the hope of an amalgam between a prosperous domestic industry and sustainable management of wild populations."

Swifts: A Guide to the Swift and Treeswifts of the World

Phil Chantler

Pica

Second edition

2000

"This work collates late-1990s research findings from the field of ornithology to provide a thoroughly modern overview of swift identification and distribution. This edition has revised artwork and maps, and much new textual material."

Swifts: A Guide to the Swift and Treeswifts of the World

Phil Chantler

Yale University Press

Second edition

2000

"The second edition of this highly acclaimed book has been extensively revised by the author to take account of recent information, most particularly about the neotropical swifts, and several plates have been revised by the artist.

Swifts: A Guide to the Swift and Treeswifts of the World

Phil Chantler

Pica

1995

"As well as presenting the author's original research, this book also brings together a review of all current research into the identification and distribution of 96 species of swift worldwide."

On the Biology of Five Species of Swifts (Apodidae, Cypseloidinae) in Costa Rica

Manuel A. Marin, Gary F. Stiles

Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology

1992

A 66 page study of the White-collared (Streptoprocne zonaris), White-chinned (Cypseloides cryptus), Spot-fronted (Cypseloides cherriei), Chestnut-collared Cypseloides rutilus), and Black Swift (Cypseloides niger).

Chimney Swifts and Their Relatives

Margaret Whittemore

1981

Devil Birds: The Life Of The Swift

Derek Bromhall

1980

Bird Study, Volume 5, Issue 3

Main articles:

• The Census of Heronries 1957 - J. Stafford
• Swifts over the Sea at Night - David Lack
• Weather Movements of Swifts 1955–1957 - David Lack

The Breeding Biology of the Chimney Swift: Chaetura pelagica

R.B. Fischer

The University of the State of New York

1958

Swifts In A Tower

David Lack

1956

Early study of Swifts based on a colony nesting in the tower of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

First edition

Buy from amazon.co.uk

1976 reprint

Bird Study, Volume 2, Issue 1

Main articles:

• The Breeding of Blackbird, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush in Great Britain Part I. Breeding Seasons - M. T. Myers
• The Breeding Distribution and Habitats of the Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa Hypoleuca) in Britain - Bruce Campbell
• The Summer Movements of Swifts in England - David Lack
• Abrasion and Loss of Rings among Sea-Birds - J. C. Coulson & E. White