Hummingbird Facts: Flight, Speed, Heart Rate & More

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world with extraordinary flying abilities that seem to defy physics. These tiny jewels of the bird world can hover motionless in midair, fly backwards, and even upside down.

Unique Flight Capabilities

Hummingbirds are the only birds capable of sustained hovering and backward flight. They achieve this through a unique wing structure and movement pattern. Their wings rotate in a figure eight pattern, with shoulder joints that allow nearly 180 degree rotation.

Extreme Metabolism and Energy Needs

Their heart rates reach up to 1,200 beats per minute during flight and 250 beats per minute at rest. Body temperature averages 104°F (40°C) while active. They visit 1,000 to 2,000 flowers every day.

Nectar Diet and Feeding Behavior

Hummingbirds primarily consume flower nectar, a sugar rich liquid that provides quick energy. Their long, specialized tongues extend far beyond their bills, licking nectar up to 13 times per second through capillary action. Red, orange, and pink tubular flowers attract hummingbirds most effectively.

Physical Characteristics and Size

The bee hummingbird from Cuba holds the title of smallest bird on Earth, measuring just 2 inches long and weighing 0.07 ounces, less than a penny. The giant hummingbird from South America reaches 8 inches and weighs 0.7 ounces. Most North American species measure 3 to 4 inches.

Breeding and Nesting

Nests measure only 1 to 2 inches across, roughly the size of a walnut shell. Eggs incubate for 14 to 23 days depending on species. Chicks fledge at 18 to 30 days old.

Migration and Torpor

Ruby throated hummingbirds migrate up to 2,000 miles between breeding grounds in eastern North America and wintering areas in Central America. Some individuals fly nonstop 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico, an incredible feat for such small birds. Body temperature drops from 104°F to as low as 48°F.