Unlike most birds, hummingbirds can hover in place, fly straight up, down, sideways, and even backwards. This is possible thanks to their unique ball-and-socket shoulder joints, which allow wings to rotate in a full circle.
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Unlike most birds, hummingbirds can hover in place, fly straight up, down, sideways, and even backwards. This is possible thanks to their unique ball-and-socket shoulder joints, which allow wings to rotate in a full circle.
TTo keep up with their rapid wingbeats — up to 80 per second — hummingbirds have one of the highest metabolisms of any animal. Their hearts can beat more than 1,200 times per minute during flight, requiring them to feed almost constantly.
Hummingbirds feed mainly on flower nectar, using their long, specialized tongues. While feeding, they transfer pollen from flower to flower, playing a crucial role in ecosystems as pollinators, much like bees and butterflies.
Despite their size, some species of hummingbirds migrate thousands of kilometers. The ruby-throated hummingbird, for example, can fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, a journey of over 800 kilometers in a single flight.
Hummingbirds symbolize energy, adaptability, and resilience. Protecting their habitats means protecting not only a bird, but also the ecosystems that depend on their role as pollinators.