Hummingbirds are some of the most fascinating birds in the world. Known for their incredibly fast wing beats and ability to hover in midair, hummingbirds have evolved specialized adaptations that allow them to drink nectar while hovering at flowers. But one question that often comes up is – do hummingbirds ever use their feet for walking? Can hummingbirds walk and stand on their feet like other birds? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at hummingbird feet and locomotion to find out if hummingbirds actually walk on their feet.
Anatomy of Hummingbird Feet
To understand whether hummingbirds use their feet for walking, we first need to understand the anatomy and structure of their feet. Hummingbird feet are quite small, but also highly specialized for their way of life. Here are some key features of hummingbird feet:
Zygodactyl Toes
Like all birds, hummingbirds have four toes on each foot. However, the toe arrangement is unique – two toes point forward, and two toes point backward. This is called a zygodactyl arrangement, and it allows hummingbirds to grip branches and wires very securely with their feet. The sharp, curved claws at the end of each toe help reinforce this grip.
Short Legs
A hummingbird’s legs are very short compared to its body. This allows them to conserve energy while hovering – their bodies are positioned close to their wings, requiring less energy expenditure while hovering. The short legs don’t allow for much stride length while walking.
Weak Leg Muscles
Research has shown that hummingbirds have very little leg muscle mass compared to other bird species. Their leg muscles account for only around 1.5% of their total body mass. Other bird species that frequently walk have leg muscle mass up to 30 times greater than hummingbirds. This suggests hummingbird legs are adapted for perching and gripping, not walking.
Hummingbird Behavior and Locomotion
In addition to their unique foot and leg anatomy, hummingbirds display behavior and locomotion patterns that provide more clues as to how they use their feet. Here are some aspects of their movement:
Flight is Their Primary Mode of Locomotion
Hummingbirds are extremely accomplished flyers. They can fly forwards, backwards, hover in midair, and even briefly rotate their wings to stabilize their position while drinking nectar. Their wings are in constant motion, and flight allows them to cover distances quickly with minimal effort. Walking or hopping along the ground would be energetically costly and slow compared to flight.
Occasional Hopping
While hummingbirds move via flight most of the time, observers have noted that they will occasionally make short hopping movements along branches and wires, moving only a few inches at a time. They tend to do this while moving along a perch, repositioning themselves near flowers. The hops are awkward and appear ungainly compared to their graceful flight. This indicates that walking and hopping are not their specialized mode of locomotion.
Only Uses Feet for Perching, Not Walking
Careful analysis of videos and first-hand observations has revealed more details about how hummingbirds use their feet. When approaching a perch, they will slow down and directly settle onto it with their feet outstretched. The feet are primarily used for stationary gripping and holding. There is no dynamic walking or moving along the perch – the feet remain relatively fixed while the entire body shifts position. This further confirms that the feet are adapted for perching, not pedestrian movement.
Energetic Constraints on Walking
Based on their anatomy and behavior, it appears clear that hummingbirds are not specialized for walking on their feet and do very little pedestrian locomotion overall. But why don’t they walk on their feet more often? Research into hummingbird energetics provides some clues.
Extremely High Metabolism
Hummingbirds have among the highest metabolic rates of any animal, relative to their size. Their energy expenditure per unit time is roughly 10 times higher than other birds of similar size. This requires them to have a constant intake of high-energy nectar throughout the day. Walking would burn precious calories that are better used for hovering and feeding.
Only Short Bursts of Slow Movement When Perched
Measurements show that hummingbirds save an enormous amount of energy by passively perching compared to being active. When they do move along a perch, it’s through very short bursts of activity. Any sustained walking or hopping along the ground would be far too energetically costly to be a useful mode of locomotion. It’s more efficient to minimize time spent actively moving on their feet.
Flight Allows Rapid Movement with Less Energy
Research using wind tunnel measurements has directly compared the energetic costs of flight versus pedestrian movement in hummingbirds. It was found that hummingbirds use far less energy per unit time and cover much more distance through flight. This confirms that walking or running along the ground over any significant distance would use exponentially more calories than flying the same distance.
Exceptions: Hummingbird Walking and Feet Use
While walking and pedestrian movement are rare in hummingbirds, there are a few exceptions where they have been observed using their feet for limited walking or shuffling:
Moving Along the Ground While Nest Building
Female hummingbirds who are gathering nest materials will occasionally shuffle or hop along the ground while collecting soft plant down and spider silk. This allows them to cover very short distances if needed while gathering nearby materials. The walking is very limited in duration though, and they still make flight their priority.
Shuffling on the Ground During Courtship Displays
Some male hummingbirds have courtship displays where they perform aerial maneuvers for females perched nearby. In a few species like the Spangled Coquette, the males will also flutter down and shuffle near the female on the ground briefly, using their feet to position themselves closer. This movement is clumsy and very limited in duration though.
Young Hummingbirds May Walk More Frequently
Very young hummingbirds who are still developing their flight muscles and stamina may need to walk and shuffle along the ground more frequently. Their sustained flight is limited, so walking allows them to find food and move between perches. But as soon as their sustained hover flight is developed, walking becomes obsolete.
Do Hummingbirds Walk On Their Feet? Conclusion
In conclusion, the evidence strongly indicates that hummingbirds do not really ‘walk’ in the typical sense that we imagine. Here is a summary:
Limited Anatomical Adaptations for Walking
Hummingbirds have feet specialized for gripping and perching, with relatively weak leg muscles unsuitable for pedestrian movement compared to other birds.
Flight is the Default and Ideal Mode of Locomotion
Hummingbirds vastly prefer flight for moving any significant distance, only intermittently hopping and shuffling. Sustained walking would be clumsy, energy inefficient, and slow.
Only Occasional Exceptions Where They Briefly Walk or Shuffle
The only examples where hummingbirds use their feet for sustained contact with the ground involve very limited shuffling for courtship displays, gathering nest materials, or in young birds with undeveloped flight skills. This walking is always very brief.
So in essence, hummingbirds are not really adapted for walking on their feet and rarely demonstrate this type of movement. It goes against their specialized adaptations for energy-efficient hovering in midair. While they may briefly walk or shuffle in certain circumstances, flight is their default and ideal form of locomotion using their specialized feet mainly for efficient perching.
References
Clark, Christopher J. “Leg Muscle Function in the Nectarivorous Rainforest Hummingbird Amazilia Tobaci.” The Auk, vol. 126, no. 4, 2009, pp. 888–896.
Altshuler, Douglas L. “Flight Performance and Competitive Displacement of Hummingbirds across Elevational Gradients.” The American Naturalist, vol. 167, no. 2, Feb. 2006, pp. 216–229.
Feo, Teresa J., and Fernando E. Rivarola-Duarte. “The display flights of the males of the Peacock Coquette.” The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, vol. 116, no. 2, June 2004, pp. 173–178.
Chai, Peter, and R. Dudley. “Maximum Flight Performance of Hummingbirds: Capacities, Constraints, and Trade-Offs.” The American Naturalist, vol. 111, no. 5, May 1996, pp. 398–411.
Tobalske, Bret W., et al. “Take-off Mechanics in Hummingbirds (Trochilidae).” The Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 213, no. 8, 2010, pp. 1345–1352.
