What is a swift?

Q: What is a swift?


A: A swift is a bird in the family Apodidae.

Q: What is the order of swifts?


A: The swift is in the order Apodiformes with treeswifts and hummingbirds.

Q: What is special about the way swifts fly?


A: Swifts are very good at flying and spend all of their time in the air.

Q: Where does the name "apus" come from?


A: The scientific name for the swift (apus) comes from the Ancient Greek word απους, apous which means "without feet".

Q: Why are swifts' feet so small and weak?


A: Swifts have very small, weak feet because they primarily use them to hold on to vertical places, not for walking on the ground.

Q: Can swifts fly up if they land on the ground?


A: Yes, although it is often thought that if they land on the ground, they cannot fly up again, but that is not true. They can take off but with difficulty.

Q: What type of places do swifts use their feet to hold on to?


A: Swifts use their feet to hold on to vertical places such as the wall of a house or a cliff.

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