Interesting Facts – Hummingbirds sometimes seem otherworldly compared to other feathered friends. They see more colors than the human eye does, and can even enter a deathlike state to survive frigid winter nights. But their most remarkable ability has to do with their incredibly fast-moving wings, with the fastest flapping upwards of 80 times per second.
Thanks to those incredible appendages, hummingbirds can hover — and they’re the only species of bird that can do so on their own for a sustained period of time.
Hummingbirds can also move up, down, left, right, forward, and yes, even backward (another unique ability), reaching speeds of 75 miles per hour. According to Audubon, the hummingbird also has really sensitive “brakes,” and can switch from flying 25 miles per hour to coming to a dead stop within the length of a human index finger. Continue reading
Cheryl Richardson – Last night, I sat on our veranda staring at the late summer flowers in our garden when a hummingbird arrived at the feeder. I’ve been watching for them, knowing each day is a gift because they’re about to embark on the long journey south to a warmer climate.