Chaeturinae

a subfamily of birds of the order Apodiformes. The tips of the rachises of their tail feathers extend spikelike up to 1 cm and serve as a support for climbing in nesting places (cliffs, hollows, and chimneys). There are four genera, comprising 46 species; members of Chaeturinae are found mainly in the tropics and subtropics. There is one species, the needle-tailed swift, in the USSR.