Swallow and Swift: similarity and difference still exist

Who among us did not look at the fast-moving small birds with bifurcated tails, literally performing aerobatics figures, filling the air with piercing cries? It can be a swallow, and a swift. The similarity and distinction of these birds, as a rule, is associated only with the length of the tail. However, this is not entirely true, or rather, not at all. From a distance they really look the same: both in size, color, and shape of the wings. Although these are completely different birds. So what's the difference between swallows and swifts?

Swallows

Swallows, or in Latin, Hirundinidae, belong to the species-rich family of passerines. In total, it has 75 species, of which ten occur on the territory of Russia.

Swallows make their dwellings out of clay, mud or silt, adding straws, twigs, blades of grass and binding it with their saliva.

They fly more slowly swift. Their speed is usually about 50-60 km / h, but they are able to change the trajectory of their movement with lightning speed.

Swifts

Apodes - so in Latin are called Swifts. Related to the squabble group, they are divided into two families (crested swifts, Hemiprocnidae, inhabiting tropical Asia, and Prizhidae, which occur everywhere except the polar regions), in which there are about 80 species.

Swifts equip their dwellings in caves, crevices of rocks, hollows. Some species, like swallows, build their nests from hardened saliva. These buildings are also mistakenly called "swallow nests".

Swifts, you can say, live in the air. Their sickle-shaped wings are simply made for a swift flight. Some types of swifts can accelerate to more than 120 km / h.

Swallow and Swift: similarity and difference

The external differences inherent in each particular species of these birds are more than enough. First of all, this concerns the structure of the feet. They are very short at the swift, with all four fingers pointing forward. Such a structure does not allow these birds to sit on a branch or move on the ground. But it is very convenient to catch even the slightest ledge on a vertical surface, whether it be a rock or a wall of a building. At the swallow, like most other birds, one finger is directed back and three - forward. Because they can sit safely, for example, on branches or wires.

In addition, they differ in color. At swallows, even quickly flying, on the chest you can see a white speck. The second considered representative of birds does not have it. But that's not all, what distinguishes the swallow and the swift. The similarity and difference between them is that the last wing never folds in flight. In contrast to swallows, Swifts are characterized by their shouting. In addition, it is much larger than it, its wings are narrower and longer, besides having a crescent shape. It also has a shorter and broad tail. This bird can often be found in the city, and the swallow - in the countryside.

Both the swallow and the swift, whose similarity and difference can be considered indefinitely, are migratory birds. As soon as autumn comes, they rush to the southern hemisphere, then spring back to their native lands and leave their offspring after them.

With these birds associated a lot of signs, proverbs, sayings. Like other birds, swifts and swallows are our reliable volunteers in the fight against harmful insects. With the latter, the beginning of spring is connected, and, consequently, the chanting of love and life. The comfort of a home is not uncommonly associated with swallows' nests. And Swifts are associated with the summer, as they return to their native places the latest, bringing on their wings the warmth of distant countries.