What is the similarity between swallow and swift?

Swallows and swifts are a symbol of warm summer evenings. They sweep with incredible speed over the heads of people, deftly catching flies and other small insects. Of course, these are completely different species, but the similarity between swallow and swift is obvious. Let's consider the most revealing examples.

Both species are widely distributed not only throughout the territory of our country, but all over the world. Given that the Far North is not enough insects, swallows and swifts there is also not. Most of them in the conditions of the steppe zones. The size and general anatomical structure of these birds are also similar.

This similarity between swallow and swift is due to an almost identical way of life. All of them eat only insects, grabbing them right in flight. That is why they have sharp and elongated wings, a broad beak and practically atrophied leg limbs.

Swallows and swifts actually spend all their time in the air, catching an edible trifle. Both species feed their chicks with an original dish: the caught insects in their beaks are combined with sticky saliva into a "bag" that the youngsters feed. As you can see, the similarity between swallow and swift is obvious.

In addition, these birds seldom sit on the ground. This is due to the atrophy of the feet already mentioned. Once on the surface of the soil, they can not keep their owner in an upright position, and therefore the bird takes off, only relying on developed and powerful wings.

By the way, contrary to the generally accepted opinion, both these birds can fly off the ground (we already wrote about this), but they simply have nothing to do there. Creeping large insects do not interest them, and they can become a food of some predator very quickly.

In the structure of the paw, there is another similarity between the swallow and the swift: it is arranged so that the bird can catch on completely sheer surfaces, which helps representatives of these species to nest on steep rocks, where predators can not simply fall physically.

But in the same foot lies the difference between swallow and swift. In the swift this limb is four-fingered, and the fingers are arranged in different directions. Grasp the branch or wire, he simply can not.

At the swallow, one finger is directed back: with such a paw, it is easy to grab a tree branch or wire. If you see a bunch of birds on a telegraph wire, it's swallows.

But what is the main feature that has two different biological species? It's about nutrition. Rushing over us in their rapid flight, they eat kilograms of midges, mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

When there are few swallows or swifts in a certain area of the middle belt, this immediately manifests itself in a sharp increase in the number of bloodsucking insects. They not only provide a lot of inconvenience to a person, but they also carry a whole bunch of diseases, and therefore these birds should be protected.

In general, all birds (swallows and swifts - including) are an integral part of the biogeocenosis in which they live. Any potentially harmful activity of a person ultimately turns against him. Remember this!