Meet the hummingbird: the bird that can fly backwards

With the exception of a few terrestrial birds, the vast majority of birds can fly. Birds have powerful wing muscles, as well as feathers and bones that make them adapted for flight. By flapping their wings, the birds generate force to take off and push them forward. Thanks to their aerodynamic design, they can glide, hover, dive and float in dizzying patterns. Some birds with extremely strong wing muscles can fly for long periods of time or at very high speeds. While most birds have strong muscles that allow them to lower their wings, only a few of them have muscles that are equally suitable for raising their wings. This discrepancy prevents most birds from flying backwards. Some birds, such as songbirds, herons, or flycatchers, can fly backward, but only for short distances. However, one bird stands out and stands out as the only known bird that can fly backwards.

Meet the hummingbird, a bird that can fly backwards. In this article, we explore the taxonomy, distribution, physical characteristics, social and reproductive behavior of hummingbirds, diet and feeding behavior, flight capabilities, and environmental and cultural importance. We’ll also answer a few frequently asked questions about hummingbirds.

Taxonomy

Modern hummingbirds appeared somewhere between 30 and 40 million years ago. Today all hummingbirds belong to the Trochilidae family. Together with their closest relatives, swifts and tree swifts, they make up the Apodiformes order. In total, there are over 360 unique species of hummingbirds. With such a variety, only tyrannical flycatchers and tanagers can have more distinct species in their families. Scientists have divided these hummingbirds into 9 different clades or groups based on similar origins and characteristics. Treasures include emeralds, bees, mountain gems, coquets, diamonds, hermits, mangoes, topazes, and giant hummingbirds. Each of these hummingbirds developed unique physiological characteristics that helped them eat nectar of different colors. Thus, hummingbirds have developed more personality traits in areas with a large variety of colors. In other words, the more flowers there are in a region, the greater the differences between hummingbird species.

Distribution

Most modern hummingbirds come from America, the vast majority from South America. They stretch from Alaska in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south, as well as the Caribbean. To be precise, hummingbirds are mostly found in Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, with fewer species found elsewhere. However, some of the earlier hummingbird species may have also originated from Europe or Eurasia. Today, the only place outside of America where you can find hummingbirds is in the east of Russia. Most hummingbirds live in tropical and subtropical environments, but some have adapted to temperate forests. In winter, most hummingbirds migrate south from more temperate climates to warmer habitats. For example, the reddish hummingbird migrates about 8,000 miles back and forth, which is incredible given its size. In comparison, most of the smaller birds don’t migrate that far, which is further evidence of the hummingbird’s strength.

physical characteristics

Hummingbirds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Typically, females in small species are larger than males, and in larger species, males measure more than females. For example, the bee hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world, is only about 2 inches long. Meanwhile, the giant hummingbird, the largest hummingbird species, is about 9 inches long. All hummingbirds have long, curved beaks specially designed to feed on flower nectar. However, their beaks can vary greatly in size and curvature, with adaptations based on local fauna. In addition, hummingbirds come in a variety of colors, with males usually having brighter and more colorful plumage. Their feathers can be of different colors depending on the lighting, from green to blue, from purple to red. As a rule, males develop bright plumage during courtship rituals, and they ruffle their feathers to attract females.

Social and reproductive behavior

Hummingbirds use their wings to make humming sounds to communicate with each other. A few basic messages include warning sounds when predators are nearby, threats against potential rivals, and mating intentions. Unlike some other bird species, hummingbirds do not mate for life. Some species act out complex demonstrations of courtship, including diving into the air and rubbing with their wings. However, many males simply wait for the females to enter their territory before attempting to reproduce. In addition, male hummingbirds are not at all conducive to raising their offspring. Female hummingbirds are solely responsible for nest building and nesting. Most hummingbirds build a cup-shaped nest, usually made from lichen, moss, and other soft grasses. Hummingbirds lay small eggs of any kind of bird, the eggs of which are a little over an inch long.

Diet and feeding

All hummingbirds are nectarivorous, which means that they mainly feed on the nectar of flowers. Using their long beaks, they dip their beak into the flowers and then use their long tongues to stroke the nectar. The hummingbird’s beak can bend up to 25 degrees, which helps them reach nectar in hard-to-reach places. The nectar provides hummingbirds with the energy they need to metabolize quickly. During flight, they have the highest metabolism of any animal, and their heart can beat up to 1260 times per minute. Given their metabolism, hummingbirds must eat efficiently and spend most of their time sitting and resting. Besides nectar, hummingbirds also feed on a variety of insects. Common insects include mosquitoes, midges and fruit flies, and spiders. To catch their prey, hummingbirds will float in flocks of insects, thereby increasing their chances of catching as many insects as possible.

Flight capabilities

The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards. The hummingbird’s wings allow it to fly forward, backward, up and down, and in the shape of a figure eight. They can flap their wings up to 80 times per second and generate much more upward force than other birds. This allows them to hover in place like some insect species, rather than the “hover” used by other birds. Their wings move at such a high speed, their flapping wings emit a characteristic buzzing sound. The hummingbird got its name from this sound.

Ecological and cultural significance

Hummingbirds perform a number of important ecological functions. Given their nutritional needs, they can visit hundreds of flowers throughout the day. Their nectar needs mean hummingbirds are among the most prolific pollinators in nature. They pollinate not only flowers, but also trees and other flowering plants in their environment. In addition, they also fulfill an important cultural function historically and today. The Aztec people worshiped hummingbirds, and the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, was often depicted as a hummingbird. A number of other indigenous peoples have also narrated creation myths and tales of hummingbirds. Today the Jamaican bird or doctor bird is the national bird of Jamaica.

Frequently asked questions about hummingbirds

Can hummingbirds walk or jump?

Unlike some other bird species, hummingbirds cannot walk or jump. Their legs are relatively weak, which means that they can only move short distances.

What is the most common hummingbird?

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common type of hummingbird. It gets its name from the bright red feathers on the throat of males. They are distributed throughout the eastern half of North America.

How long do hummingbirds live?

Despite their fast metabolism, hummingbirds can live an exceptionally long time. Although most of them live from 3 to 5 years, some specimens can live up to 12 years.