Hummingbirds are well known for their ability to hover in midair, seeming to defy gravity as their wings beat incredibly fast to keep them in place. This unique ability allows hummingbirds to feed on flower nectar without landing on the plant. However, while hummingbirds are the best known for hovering, they are not the only types of birds capable of hovering in place.
What is hovering?
Hovering refers to the ability to stay suspended in one place in midair. It requires the generation of enough lift to counteract the bird’s weight and keep it from dropping. The wings must beat incredibly quickly to create this lift. Most birds cannot beat their wings fast enough to hover.
True hovering requires the bird to maintain position in all directions – vertically, horizontally, and side to side. Some birds can hover briefly in one direction before drifting in other directions. Hummingbirds are unique in their ability to genuinely hover by maintaining position in all directions.
How do hummingbirds hover?
Hummingbirds are specifically adapted for hovering. Here are some of their key adaptations that allow them to hover:
- Extremely high wingbeat frequency – Hummingbird wings beat around 50 times per second, much faster than other birds.
- Inverted wings – The wings are shaped so the top surface acts as the bottom of a typical wing, providing good lift.
- Strengthened musculature – Their wing muscles make up 25-30% of their body weight.
- Lightweight – Hummingbirds weigh only 2-20 grams, minimizing the lift needed.
- Enhanced control – Wrist bones close to the wing tips improve control.
All of these adaptations allow hummingbirds to achieve the incredibly fast wingbeats required for hovering. No other birds have evolved with all of these hovering adaptations.
Other birds that can hover
While hummingbirds are uniquely adapted for hovering, some other birds have the limited ability to hover briefly, including:
Kestrels
These small falcons are able to briefly hover in place when hunting for prey. However, they cannot maintain an extended hover and end up drifting horizontally.
Kingfishers
Kingfishers hover briefly when hunting for fish in water. Like kestrels, their hover is limited in duration before they drift.
Nectar bats
Some species of nectar bats, like the lesser long-nosed bat, can briefly hover to feed on flower nectar. Their hover time is less than hummingbirds.
Dragonflies
These insects are capable of hovering in place with incredible control as they hunt other insects. Their hover does not last long.
These species demonstrate limited hovering ability compared to hummingbirds. None can match the duration, control, and stability of hummingbird hovering.
Why can hummingbirds hover better than other birds?
Hummingbirds have several key adaptations that allow them to hover much better than other birds:
| Adaptation | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingbeat frequency | Up to 80 beats/second vs. 10-30 in other birds |
| Wing anatomy | Inverted for superior lift generation |
| Body weight | As little as 2 grams vs. most birds over 50 grams |
| Enhanced control | Wrist bones near wing tips improve control |
No other bird combines all these hovering adaptations to the same degree as hummingbirds. The incredibly fast wingbeats generate the lift needed to hover, while the light body weight minimizes the lift requirements. The wing anatomy further boosts lift production. Overall, hummingbirds are uniquely specialized for sustained, controlled hovering.
How long can hummingbirds hover?
Hummingbirds can hover in place for surprisingly long periods when necessary. Some documented hover times include:
- Up to 60 seconds while feeding at flowers.
- Up to 150 seconds during courtship displays.
- Possibly over 300 seconds during migration while waiting out strong headwinds.
However, long hovers require a lot of energy. Hummingbirds need to consume large amounts to maintain their high metabolism. After hovering, they need to rest and refuel. Their average feedings last only about 15 seconds.
Interestingly, larger hummingbird species with more body mass have a tougher time hovering for extended periods. The bee hummingbird, at only 2 grams, can hover with less effort than a giant hummingbird at 20 grams.
Do hummingbirds hover while sleeping?
Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolisms and cannot go extended periods without eating. As a result, they do not sleep like most birds. However, they do go into a nightly state of torpor where their metabolism and heart rate slows dramatically. During torpor, they cannot actively hover.
To sleep, hummingbirds find a suitable perch protected from the elements. They prefer branches, clotheslines, or other elevated perches. The bird grips the perch tightly with its feet and essentially passes out for a few hours until morning.
Do hummingbirds migrate by hovering?
Hummingbirds migrate incredible distances each year, with the ruby-throated hummingbird travelling from Canada to Central America. Their ability to hover comes in handy during migration.
While hummingbirds cannot remain in sustained hover during migration, they can hover briefly to rest when facing strong headwinds. Hovering in place allows them to wait out the winds before continuing their journey.
Research in wind tunnels shows that hummingbirds can still make progress flying into 20 mph headwinds by hovering. They also use hovering to catch insects during migration for extra fuel.
What is the most extreme hummingbird hover?
Anna’s hummingbirds perform one of the most extreme hovers during their remarkable mating dives. The male ascends 30-100 meters then plummets downward at speeds over 60 mph, pulling up abruptly to hover right in front of the female.
This requires incredibly fast wingbeats to stop their plunge and instantly hover. The G-forces are intense. No other bird performs a hover maneuver so extreme.
Conclusion
In summary, while other birds can briefly hover under limited conditions, hummingbirds are the clear experts. Their specialized adaptations like fast wingbeats, inverted wing shape, light weight, and enhanced stability allow them to achieve stable, controlled hovers of 30 seconds or longer.
No other bird can match the duration and control of hummingbird hovering. So while they are not the only birds that hover, hummingbirds have certainly perfected the ability beyond any other species.
