The common swift is a breeding species in the Palearctic, distributed across temperate latitudes from Western Europe to the far east, but absent from cold and boreal regions (BirdLife International, 2024; Keller et al., 2020). It is a migratory species that appears in Spain during the breeding season, both on the peninsula and in the Balearic and Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla (Molina and Casaux in SEO/BirdLife, 2022). Its breeding areas are mainly located in urban environments such as cities and towns, using cavities in buildings to place nests.

Its distribution is widespread across the Community of Madrid, except in high mountain areas and the Tajo river plain, where there are no suitable nesting sites. It nests almost exclusively in buildings, although it can also use tree cavities. It prefers tall buildings with cavities. Its activity takes place in the aerial environment, regardless of the habitat below (Díaz et al., 1994).

It is not a rare bird within the national park, either because it finds suitable feeding areas or because it could breed in some tree cavities as previously described by authors (Bernis, 1988). It has been detected around the Navacerrada pass and surroundings, where there are buildings suitable for nesting and where insect aggregations may occur due to favorable air currents. Nevertheless, observations are scattered throughout the park because during feeding flights it can be seen almost anywhere. Some observations might correspond to late migratory movements, given its particular phenology (Onrubia et al., 2009; SEO/BirdLife 2011).