 Another function of long, pointed wings is to enable these birds to turn quickly and smoothly in mid-glide.The wingtips create little vortices of air, within which the low air pressure creates additional lift on the wingtips.Furthermore, long, forked tails provide additional lift, stability, and steering ability, which is important for flying at slower speeds (swifts, though capable of flying very fast, actually must fly relatively slowly to intercept airborne insects).