A "weird questions in semi-earnest digression"......

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That rather gives the impression that they are not a specific type of bird--however, they are a specific family of bird, for which the specific charateristics are narrow wings (as well as long), a very short, blunt beak, and a forked tail. They are "cousins" to swallows.

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/PlainSwift(NL).jpg

A "Plain" swift.

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/asianplamswift8.jpg

An Asian Palm Swift.

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/birdsightings/swift.gif

A Sage Swallow (Texas).

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You made that up, George!

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Setanta wrote:

That rather gives the impression that they are not a specific type of bird--however, they are a specific family of bird, for which the specific charateristics are narrow wings (as well as long), a very short, blunt beak, and a forked tail. They are "cousins" to swallows.

A "Plain" swift.

An Asian Palm Swift.

A Sage Swallow (Texas).

Question 4 (sort of a subset of 2, but that isn't important right now...)

How many of them does it take to carry a coconut?

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They bloody well can't carry a coconut . . . they only weigh six ounces ! ! !

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Ah, but they look so graceful, Setanta! It's the wings, those long wings! Very Happy

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http://www.ronausting.com/images/00/chimneyswiftnest00.jpg

The Chimney Swift is noted for buidling a nest "glued" together with saliva on the sides of tall structures, such as a chimney or a steeple.

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I have always loved seeing swifts and swallows on the wing. As they eat insects, they are often sought after by homeowners--in the American South, very high poles are erected with bird house "apartments" at the top, the entry holes being made so small that only wrens or swifts/swallows can enter.

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