Meet The Hummingbird, The Only Bird Species In The World That Is Able To Fly Backwards

Cars, tractors, and even airplanes can move back and forth, but bikes can't. Most terrestrial animals can recede, and the vast majority of fish swim forwards, still, most have the ability to swim backward as well. On the opposite side, it isn't typical for a bird to fly backward. Even hovering is a skill that a few feathered species are gifted with.

Source: gardenbird.uk (photo used for illustration)

If you wonder whether any birds fly backward, the answer is yes. Nonetheless, only one species of bird can do so, and that is the hummingbird. This fact is also what Redditor u/SingLikeTinaTurner found out and shared on the subreddit r/todayilearned.

Source: u/SingLikeTinaTurner

Only hummingbirds can fly backward for a significant amount of time. In fact, hummingbirds also have the ability to fly upside down and indeed hover in the air.

Source: forestwildlife (photo used for illustration)

It is all down to how their wings are structured with a ball and socket joint allowing a greater span of movement, freeing their wings up to move in all directions. Besides, they manage this by flapping their wings 20 to 80 times a second. Seeing a hummingbird fly, you will see how acrobatic they are.

Source: gardenbird.uk (photo used for illustration)

Source: gardenbird.uk (photo used for illustration)

Since hummingbirds rely on nectar to sustain themselves, they need to forage nectar as much as possible. The ability to fly backward, side-to-side, and change direction without much effort help them collect nectar a lot faster and more efficiently than only flying up and forward.

Source: CGTN (photo used for illustration)

Source: World Atlas (photo used for illustration)

Here are the comments after some Redditors read the fact.

Source: Reddit

Source: Reddit

Source: Reddit

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