chimney swift

noun

: a small sooty-gray swift (Chaetura pelagica) with long narrow wings that often builds its nest inside an unused chimney

called also chimney swallow

Examples of chimney swift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Worcester County: An Eastern kingbird in New Braintree, three black vultures in Athol, a late snow bunting at the Bolton Flats Wildlife Management Area in Bolton, a snowy egret in Rutland, and a chimney swift in Westboro. Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Apr. 2023 An Eurasian wigeon in Seekonk, three cattle egrets in Fairhaven and a Western tanager and a late chimney swift in Mansfield. Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Oct. 2022 To help the birds out, conservation groups have built chimneys called chimney swift towers. Linda Girardi, chicagotribune.com, 21 Sep. 2021 The chimney swift has a 5-inch-long body and a 12-inch wingspan and weighs less than an ounce. Linda Girardi, chicagotribune.com, 21 Sep. 2021 Observers spotted a chimney swift and a gray catbird in Belmont and an orchard oriole in Needham. BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2021 While chimney swifts typically fly higher, rainy weather can cause them to forage lower to the ground. Sophie Lewis, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2019 The birds — identified as chimney swifts, which migrate from the United States to South America in the fall — were caught on video flying into the large building, which opened in May 2010. Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, 16 Oct. 2019 The birds, identified as chimney swifts, hit the windows of the NASCAR Hall of Fame building, according to video from CNN affiliate WSOC. Amanda Watts, CNN, 16 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chimney swift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chimney swift was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near chimney swift

Cite this Entry

“Chimney swift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimney%20swift. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chimney swift

noun
: a small sooty-gray bird with long narrow wings that often builds its nest inside an unused chimney

More from Merriam-Webster on chimney swift

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!