Page "Common Swift" Paragraph 1

Their scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek words α " without ", and πούς, " feet ".

ἄπους, apous, meaning " without feet ".

These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces ( hence the German name Mauersegler, literally meaning " wall-glider ").

They never settle voluntarily on the ground, where they would be vulnerable to accidents and predation.