Apodiformes is an order of birds that includes swifts, treeswifts, and hummingbirds. With over 450 species, they are found worldwide and display incredible diversity in form and behavior. Here are some fascinating facts about these remarkable birds:
They are Built for Speed and Maneuverability
Apodiformes have several adaptations that allow them to fly quickly and nimbly:
- Their wings are long, curved, and tapered for speed.
- They have short legs and feet to reduce drag.
- Their feet can rotate 180 degrees so they can cling to vertical surfaces.
- They have short, wide, triangular wings for agile flying.
As a result, many Apodiformes are considered the fastest flying birds on Earth. For example, the white-throated needletail has been clocked at 105 mph in level flight.
They Spend Most of Their Lives Airborne
Many swifts and swallows spend up to 10 months in constant flight, landing only to breed. They eat, drink, mate, and even sleep while flying. Some species like swiftlets don’t land at all after leaving the nest.
Apodiformes are able to stay aloft by:
- Having large breast muscles for flapping flight.
- Entering a gliding resting state while sleeping.
- Drinking raindrops and eating aerial plankton.
These aerial lifestyles also mean they migrate huge distances. The Arctic tern makes the longest migration of any bird, flying over 50,000 miles annually between the Arctic and Antarctic.
They Have Unusual Nesting Habits
Since they rarely land, Apodiformes have evolved some strange nesting strategies:
- Swiftlets build edible nests made of saliva that are used to make bird’s nest soup.
- Some swifts glue their nests onto vertical cliffs or cave walls.
- Tree swifts use their saliva to glue tree branches together into a nest platform.
- Hummingbirds build tiny cup-shaped nests out of spiderwebs, lichen, and moss.
Being lightweight, these unusual nests are adapted to their aerial lives. The nests are secure enough to hold eggs and chicks but light enough that they don’t restrict taking off and landing.
They Have Unique Adaptations for Feeding
Different groups of Apodiformes have evolved specialized beaks and tongues to collect food on the wing:
- Hummingbirds have slender bills and forked tongues for drinking nectar from flowers.
- Swifts have wide mouths for catching insects mid-flight.
- Treeswifts have brushy tongues with hair-like structures called filaments on the tip that are coated in saliva. These allow them to stick and retrieve insects from crevices.
These feeding strategies allow Apodiformes to harvest food sources unavailable to other birds without landing.
They Display Amazing Aerial Maneuvers and Courtship
Many species engage in fantastic aerial displays:
- Anna’s hummingbirds climb up to 130 feet before diving at speeds of over 60 mph, making loud chirps at the bottom.
- Treeswifts perform remarkable mating chases, following each other through complex loops and dives.
- The Vaux’s swift roosts in huge ‘tornados’ of up to thousands of birds circling chimneys at dusk before entering.
These physics-defying feats are thought to play roles in territorial defense and courtship. The performances showcase the flyers’ fitness and flying skills.
They Enter a Reversible State of Hibernation
Some Apodiformes like swifts and poorwills can enter torpor: a state of deep, reversible hibernation. Their metabolic rates drop, heart rates slow, and body temperatures decrease by up to 36°F.
This allows them to:
- Save energy during migration or periods of low food.
- Lower their body temperatures to survive cold nights.
- Reduce metabolic needs for their unique sleep style while aloft.
Torpor is essential for their extreme lifestyles and expanding their range into harsh environments.
They Play Important Ecological Roles
As prolific aerial insectivores, Apodiformes help control pest populations and fulfill vital roles in food chains.
Some species are also important pollinators. Research suggests hummingbirds pollinated at least 5-10% of all flowering plants in South America before bees arrived. Their adaptations allow them to pollinate tube-shaped flowers that bees can’t access.
Many Apodiformes are indicator species due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. Declines in swift populations, for example, signal threats like habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. Protecting Apodiformes also conserves the ecosystems they share with other species.
Conclusion
Apodiformes display an incredible range of anatomical, behavioral, and physiological adaptations for life in the fast lane. Their aerial mastery allows them to exploit niches unavailable to other birds.
Hopefully these facts provide a glimpse into the dazzling diversity and ecological importance of these feathered aviators. Understanding Apodiformes teaches broader lessons about evolution, biomechanics, and the wonders of the natural world.
