Biology:List of birds of North America (Apodiformes)

Short description: Wikipedia list article

The birds listed below all belong to the biological order Apodiformes, and are native to North America.

Swifts

White-throated swift

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (A) LC
• Antillean palm swift, Tachornis phoenicobia LC
• Band-rumped swift, Chaetura spinicaudus LC
• Black swift, Cypseloides niger LC
• Chapman's swift, Chaetura chapmani (A) LC
• Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila LC
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica NT
• Common swift, Apus apus (A) LC
• Costa Rican swift, Chaetura fumosa LC
• Fork-tailed palm swift, Tachornis squamata LC
• Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A) LC
• Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris LC
• Great swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila sanctihieronymi LC
• Lesser Antillean swift, Chaetura martinica LC
• Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis LC
• Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura LC
• Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (A) LC
• Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei DD
• Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi LC
• White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus LC
• White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris LC
• White-fronted swift, Cypseloides storeri DD
• White-naped swift, Streptoprocne semicollaris LC
• White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus (A) LC
• White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis LC

Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.