Like all swifts, the chimney swift forages on the wing. The chimney swift has large, deep set eyes. The legs of the chimney swift, like those of all swifts, are very short. The chimney swift carries a number of internal and external parasites. Some species, like the chimney swift, hunt with other bird species as well. The chimney swift is a gregarious species, and is seldom seen alone. The chimney swift is smaller, paler and shorter tailed than the black swift. The chimney swift feeds primarily on flying insects, but also on airborne spiders. The chimney swift generally flies quite high, though it descends during cold or rainy weather. The chimney swift ("Chaetura pelagica") is a bird belonging to the swift family Apodidae.