A Little Hummingbird Information
Hummingbirds can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, even upside down. While other birds get their flight power from the downstroke only, hummingbirds have strength on the up-stroke, as well.
Their wing is flexible at the shoulder, but inflexible at the wrist. (yes, the wrist! Who would have thought they would have a wrist!)
When hovering, they hold their bodies upright and flap their wings horizontally in a shallow figure-8. As the wings swing back they tilt flat for a moment before the wings are drawn.
Most hummingbirds flap their wings about 50 or so times a second! Yes, you read it correctly, 50 times PER SECOND! This means all we can see is a blur. The Magnificent Hummingbird is an exception; sometimes it flaps it wings slow enough for individual wing beats to be perceived.
Their tiny feet are almost useless except for perching; if hummers want to travel two inches, they must fly. Hummingbirds lift from perches without pushing off; they rise entirely on their own power, flapping their wings at almost full speed before lifting off. Though they fly very fast, they can suddenly stop and make a soft landing. They are so light they do not build up much momentum.
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