have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (A) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (A) Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (A) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (A) King rail, Rallus elegans (A) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Corn crake, Crex crex (A) Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A) American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (A) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida. Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (A) Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A) Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and