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Quick & curious · Nature

Hummingbirds can fly backwards.

Their wings allow flight in any direction – including backwards and hovering on the spot.

A hummingbird hovering in front of a purple flower
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie · Public domain · Original

99/swing beats in small species

The story behind it

Hummingbirds can fly backwards.

Their wings allow helicopter-like flight – in any direction, and on the spot. Small species beat their wings up to 99 times per second.

Sources

Every statement in this discovery is backed by one of these sources and was checked before publication.

  1. Wikipedia: Hummingbird (accessed 2026-10-05)

Image credits

  • “Hovering Hummingbird (14900025010).jpg”, USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain