Why are swallows considered strong fliers despite having weak feet?

Swallows are considered strong fliers because they have evolved to live a largely aerial life, spending much of their time in the air to capture insects on the wing. Their morphology is specifically adapted for this lifestyle, featuring long, narrow, pointed wings that provide the agility necessary for their aerial hunting habits.123

While swallows possess small and weak feet, this is a reflection of their specialized ecological niche rather than a limitation on their flight capabilities. Because they rely on flight for locomotion and feeding, they have less need for the robust, well-developed feet used by other passerines for walking, running, or gripping surfaces for extended periods. Their physical structure prioritizes flight efficiency, allowing them to be among the most agile of all passeriform birds.123