Common swift named Bird of the Year 2026 in Croatia

Common swift

ZAGREB, 26 Nov (Hina) – In the traditional “Bird of the Year” contest, organised by the Biom association in collaboration with the Croatian Birds and Nature Conservation Society, the common swift (Apus apus) was named the 2026 winner, Biom said on Monday.

Voting took place on 14-24 November, with over a thousand bird enthusiasts participating. The common swift won 40.4% of public votes on Biom’s website, surpassing other finalists – the European shag (32.3%) and the Eurasian spoonbill (27.3%), the association said.

The Bird of the Year contest aims to raise awareness about birds that are endangered or facing conservation challenges, as well as to promote the protection of their habitats.

Common swift

Swifts are small migratory birds that arrive in Croatia at the end of winter and the beginning of spring to raise a new generation of chicks. Though their behaviour resembles that of swallows, they are actually most closely related to hummingbirds, which are found only in the Americas, Biom notes.

The common swift is one of three species of this family in Croatia and the most widespread. It spends most of its life in flight, often never landing during migration or at wintering sites, and can even sleep in the air.

In the wild, common swifts typically nest in rock crevices on inaccessible cliffs, but today they are also common in cities, where they build nests in wall cracks, cavities, under roofs, and eaves.

They prefer a warm climate, so while they are found throughout Croatia, they are most numerous along the coast.