The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a small hummingbird that is found in eastern North America. With its bright ruby-red throat and metallic green back, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most recognizable hummingbird species in North America.
Quick Facts
- The ruby-throated hummingbird has an average length of 2.8-3.5 inches and weighs 2-6 grams.
- It has a wingspan of 3.1-4.3 inches.
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds beat their wings approximately 50 times per second.
- They can fly forwards, backwards, upside down, and hover in midair.
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly at speeds between 25-30 mph during regular flight.
- During courtship dives, male ruby-throats can reach speeds up to 60 mph.
Measuring Hummingbird Flight Speed
Hummingbirds are some of the smallest and most agile birds, making measuring their flight speed challenging. Here are some of the ways researchers have estimated ruby-throated hummingbird flight speed:
- High speed cameras: Recording hummingbirds in flight with high speed cameras and analyzing the footage frame-by-frame allows calculation of speed.
- Wind tunnels: Measuring airflow and pressure in a wind tunnel containing a flying hummingbird can indicate airspeed.
- Tail moult tracking: Bands placed on hummingbird tails show the timing of tail feather regrowth, indicating airspeed needed to maintain hover.
- Velocity radars: Doppler radar systems can detect the velocity of hummingbirds in free flight.
Average Flight Speed
During routine flight, ruby-throated hummingbirds beat their wings approximately 50 times per second, or 3,000 beats per minute. This allows them to hover in place as well as fly forwards, backwards, and upside down.
In forward flight, ruby-throats fly at an average speed of 25-30 miles per hour (11-13 meters per second). This requires roughly 210 wingbeats per second to maintain.
30 mph is only about one-third the average level flight speed of a pigeon at 90 mph. However, given the ruby-throat’s tiny size, this represents an incredible feat of aerial maneuverability and speed.
Contributing Factors to Flight Speed
- Small body size – Less drag allowing higher agility
- Lightweight – High ratio of wing surface area to body weight
- Hovering ability – Allows instant acceleration in any direction
- High wingbeat frequency – Enables enough lift to stay airborne
- Inverted wings – Permit lift on both upstroke and downstroke
Top Speed and Diving
While ruby-throats fly at an average of 25-30 mph during normal flight, they are capable of much faster speeds when diving through the air.
Male ruby-throated hummingbirds perform dramatic dive displays during courtship rituals. At the end of these U-shaped dives, they can reach top speeds of 60 miles per hour (27 meters per second).
During these courtship dives, the males ascend approximately 30-100 feet before swooping downwards at high speeds to impress watching females. The rapid diving causes the hummingbird’s distinctive humming or buzzing vocalizations.
Aerodynamics of Diving
To reach their top speed of 60 mph, ruby-throats change their wing position and wingbeat pattern:
- Wings are held close to the body to reduce drag
- Wingbeat frequency increases to over 200 beats per second
- Wings are supinated (tilted upward) on both downstroke and upstroke
- Dive angle approaches 45 degrees during the descent
These aerodynamic adjustments allow the birds to maximize their acceleration as they plummet through the air.
Slow Motion Hummingbird Diving Video
This slow motion video captures a ruby-throated hummingbird performing a courtship dive:
Key observations:
- The male ascends to a height of around 100 feet before beginning his dive
- He reaches an estimated speed of 50 mph at the bottom according to the narrator
- His wings are angled upward on the way down as he accelerates
- A loud buzzing sound is audible at the bottom of the dive
This video provides an excellent visual demonstration of the ruby-throated hummingbird’s diving abilities.
Flight Speed and Wingbeat Frequency
A hummingbird’s flying speed is directly related to its wingbeat frequency. Faster wing flapping allows higher speed. Here is a table showing the association between flight speed and wingbeat frequency for ruby-throated hummingbirds:
| Flight Speed (mph) | Wingbeat Frequency (beats/second) |
|---|---|
| 0 (hovering) | 50 |
| 12 | 55 |
| 25 | 75 |
| 30 | 90 |
| 60 (diving) | 200 |
As the data shows, higher flying speeds demand incredibly rapid wing movement. To achieve 60 mph dives, the hummingbird’s wings must beat a remarkable 200 times per second!
Metabolic Cost of High Speed
The downside of flying at such extreme wingbeat frequencies is the enormous metabolic cost. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rate for their size of any animal.
To support their energy needs, ruby-throats must consume more than their own body weight in nectar each day. Their hearts beat up to 1,260 times per minute and their breathing rate can reach 250 breaths per minute.
This intensive use of energy is what allows hummingbirds to fly with such speed and maneuverability. But it requires an immense amount of food to avoid starvation.
Comparisons with Other Birds
Compared to other bird species, ruby-throated hummingbirds are relatively slow in routine flight at 25-30 mph. But their ability to accelerate to 60 mph during dives is extremely impressive for their tiny size. Here’s how ruby-throat flight speed compares:
| Bird | Length (inches) | Weight (oz) | Top Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3 | 0.2 | 60 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 15-20 | 21-56 | 200 |
| Golden Eagle | 30-40 | 125-170 | 100 |
| Barn Owl | 13-20 | 14-26 | 40 |
As the data shows, the ruby-throated hummingbird is much smaller than these other bird species. But thanks to its specialized adaptations for speed and agility, it can still reach faster diving speeds than many larger birds.
A key difference is that while hummingbirds only reach their top speed during short dives, birds of prey like falcons can maintain higher cruising speeds using power from gliding and soaring.
Role of Speed in Hummingbird Ecology
The ruby-throated hummingbird’s speed and maneuverability play an important role in its behavior and ecology:
Feeding
- Enables quick access to nectar from flowers before competitors arrive
- Allows hummingbirds to efficiently feed from multiple scattered flowers
- Permits fast escape if a predator approaches while feeding
Territoriality
- Allows males to perform rapid courtship dives to impress females
- Enables males to aggressively chase intruders from their territory
- Permits females quick access to the best nesting sites before they are claimed
Migration
- Speed allows ruby-throats to migrate long distances of over 2,000 miles
- Frequent feeding provides energy for sustained flights across barriers like the Gulf of Mexico
In all these contexts, the evolution of high speed flight has been crucial for the ruby-throated hummingbird’s survival and reproduction.
Conclusions
In summary, key facts about ruby-throated hummingbird flight speed include:
- They fly at 25-30 mph during routine flight
- During courtship dives, they can reach 60 mph
- Wingbeat frequency ranges from 50 beats/second up to 200 beats/second
- Specialized adaptations like small size, light weight, and inverted wings allow their speed
- High flight speeds are essential for feeding, territoriality, and migration
The ruby-throated hummingbird is a marvel of evolutionary engineering. Despite weighing only as much as a penny, it can fly faster than many substantially larger birds. Scientists continue to study these colorful, speedy creatures to learn more about the biomechanics that enable their unique flight abilities.
