The Secret to the Hummingbird’s Hover

A hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards, and its hovering ability is a marvel of biomechanics. Unlike other birds that generate lift on both the downstroke and upstroke, a hummingbird’s wings are structured to generate lift on both strokes. Their wings move in a figure-eight pattern, allowing for incredible maneuverability and sustained hovering. To fuel this high-energy activity, they have the highest metabolism of any warm-blooded animal, visiting hundreds of flowers a day for nectar. They also enter a nightly state of torpor, a deep sleep where their metabolism slows to conserve energy. It’s a life lived at the extreme edge of biology.