There are about 450 species in the Apodiformes order. This group includes hummingbirds, swifts, and treeswifts.

The birds in the Apodiformes order are among the smallest birds in the world. Apodiformes comes from Greek and Latin words that together mean “without feet” or “footless.” This name refers to their very short legs and tiny feet, which are not well suited for walking.

Apodiformes have long primary wing feathers and short secondary feathers, helping them fly with great speed and agility. Their young hatch blind, naked, and helpless, relying completely on their parents for care.

The smallest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba, belongs to this order. Despite their tiny size, many Apodiformes are powerful fliers and spend much of their lives in the air.

FAMILIES

Apodidae (Swifts)
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)