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Biology

Flight Performance and Wing Morphology in Hummingbirds

Quick fact

Hummingbirds beat their wings up to 80 times per second, and unlike other birds, they generate equal lift on both the upstroke and the downstroke—thanks to a unique wing rotation that makes them the only birds that can fly backwards.

Why this is interesting

You've probably seen a hummingbird hover at a flower, but did you know it can also fly upside down and even backwards? How can a bird defy the rules of flight so effortlessly?