Apodiformes

The name “Apodiformes” actually means “footless,” which is a bit of an exaggeration—they do have feet, but their legs are so small and weak that these birds rarely walk or perch for long. What really makes them stand out is their mastery of flight. They spend most of their lives in the air, darting, diving, and hovering with unmatched skill. Even among birds, they’re in a league of their own when it comes to aerial agility.

One of the best-known members of this group is the hummingbird, which can hover in place, fly backward, and even upside-down for a few seconds. This is possible because of their unique wing structure, which lets them rotate their wings in a figure-eight pattern—something most birds can’t do. No other group of birds has this kind of control in the air. What makes hummingbirds even more amazing is their size and speed. Some species are smaller than a golf ball, yet they flap their wings up to 80 times per second, creating that familiar buzzing sound. To fuel all this energy, they eat constantly—mainly nectar, but also insects—and have the fastest metabolism of any bird. Their hearts can beat over 1,200 times per minute!

Swifts, on the other hand, look a bit more like small, sleek falcons and are built for speed. While hummingbirds are all about hovering and agility in tight spaces, swifts are long-distance fliers that can stay in the air for months at a time without landing. In fact, some swifts eat, sleep, and even mate while flying! Their scythe-shaped wings and strong tails help them glide effortlessly, often chasing insects in the sky at high speeds. The common swift is thought to be one of the fastest birds in level flight, reaching speeds of over 100 km/h (about 62 mph).