About Swifts and Hummingbirds

Overview

Apodiformes unite the swifts and the hummingbirds, a large and diverse order of 478 species found on every continent except Antarctica. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, famed for hovering flight, iridescent plumage and nectar-feeding with rotary wings; swifts are aerial masters that spend almost their entire lives on the wing. Both groups have short bills and great aerial agility, and together they are vital pollinators and insect controllers.

Classification

The order Swifts and Hummingbirds (Latin: APODIFORMES) comprises 3 families and roughly 478 living species. It is one of 44 orders that make up the class Aves.

Diversity & Distribution

Apodiformes unite the swifts and the hummingbirds, a large and diverse order of 478 species found on every continent except Antarctica.

Notable Families

Hummingbirds, Swifts, Treeswifts and others.