A taxonomic order of birds that includes swifts and swiftlets, characterized by reduced feet and highly developed flying abilities.
From Greek kypséle (a box or hollow place, referencing the bird's pouch-like nest) combined with Latin forma (form) and the -es plural ending. The order name was formalized in ornithological taxonomy.
Swifts in the Cypseliformes order are absolutely wild—they spend 95% of their lives in the air, eating, sleeping, and even mating while flying, and their tiny feet are so reduced they can barely walk on the ground at all.
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