This amazing bird eats, sleeps, and even mates while gliding through the clouds, staying in the air for almost an entire year!
Imagine leaving your house and not touching the floor again for nearly a year. That is exactly what the Common Swift (Apus apus) does. Scientists discovered that these small birds can stay airborne for 10 months without landing even once.
Common Swifts are built like tiny fighter jets. Their wings are long and pointed, perfect for gliding with very little effort. They only land for about two months of the year to lay eggs and raise their babies. The rest of the time, they are in the sky.
Being in the air keeps them safe from most predators like cats or snakes that live on the ground. As long as there are insects to eat and wind to glide on, the sky is the safest and most comfortable home for them.
The Common Swift holds the world record for the longest continuous flight. By eating and sleeping on the wing, they can travel from Europe to Africa and back without their feet ever touching a branch or a building for 10 months.
