"Bird Facts!"

Well, double posts for the day! I just read a thing abou parallel evolution in birds and it was epic so I had to do a "Bird Facts!" about it. Here comes:

"Bird Facts!"

The Common Swift, Apus apus (as an example of the swift order Apodiformes THEY ARE NOT PASSERINES) is a very similar shape to the House Martin, Delichon urbicum (as an example of the Hirundinidae of the order Passeriformes THEY ARE PASSERINES). You could be forgiven as a "light" or beginner birdwatcher for believing the two to be in the same family. However, these two birds are an example of parallel evolution which is awesome. The two birds live in similar habitats and so have developed the same characteristics, despite being unrelated. If you see a swift (any Apodiforme) on the floor, unable to fly, pick it up and chuck it! Apodiformes have little muscles in their legs so cannot jump and take of from the ground. Bird-nerds call this "launching" a bird. When it hits the floor and becomes immobile, we call it "grounding". Only then if it can't fly do you consult an expert. Martins, river-martins and swallows differ from the swifts in that they frequently land and have muscular legs (they are Passeriformes, DUH.) and so can launch themselves.  BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Common Swift (Apus apus)

House Martin (Delichon urbicum)