The answer to this question depends on how we define “fastest bird”. If we are talking about the bird with the fastest flapping wings or the fastest dive speed, then yes, the fastest bird is believed to be a hummingbird. Hummingbirds have wings that can beat up to 80 times per second, which allows them to hover in place and fly backwards or upside down. During courtship dives, male Anna’s hummingbirds have been recorded reaching speeds of over 60 miles per hour.
What makes hummingbirds so fast?
There are a few key adaptations that allow hummingbirds to achieve such fast flight:
- Lightweight bodies – Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, with most species weighing 2-20 grams. Their lightweight skeletons and compact muscle structure minimize the energy needed for rapid wing beats.
- Specialized wings – Hummingbird wings are short and pointed, optimized for agile maneuvers. They rotate in a full circular motion rather than just flapping up and down.
- High metabolism – Hummingbirds have among the highest metabolic rates of any animal, which provides the energy needed for sustained speed and maneuverability.
- Enlarged flight muscles – Up to 30% of a hummingbird’s total body weight is flight muscle, which powers the demanding wingbeats.
These adaptations allow hummingbirds to hover – by rapidly beating their wings forward and backward – as well as achieve swift horizontal flight. The shape of their wings provides lift on both the upstroke and downstroke.
Fastest dive speeds
During courtship displays, male Anna’s hummingbirds have been recorded diving at speeds of over 60 mph. This is the fastest measured speed for any hummingbird species. Here are some of the top recorded dive speeds:
Species | Dive Speed |
---|---|
Anna’s hummingbird | 61 mph |
Black-chinned hummingbird | 60 mph |
Calliope hummingbird | 51 mph |
The shape of a hummingbird’s beak acts like an aerofoil, providing lift as they dive. Their streamlined bodies and light weight also minimize drag. By pulling their wings and tail into a V-shape, they can accelerate to blazing speeds in these courtship displays.
Fastest wing beats
Different hummingbird species have wing beat frequencies of anywhere from 12 to 80 beats per second. Here are some of the highest wing beat rates:
Species | Wing Beat Rate |
---|---|
Blue-throated hummingbird | 80 beats/second |
Rufous hummingbird | 70 beats/second |
Allen’s hummingbird | 62 beats/second |
Their specialized shoulder joints allow their wings to rotate in a full circle – both forward and backward. This enables the high wing beat frequencies needed for hovering, changing direction midair, and other acrobatic maneuvers.
How do hummingbirds fly so fast?
Three key adaptations enable hummingbirds to reach top speeds:
- Lightweight bodies – Their small size, compact muscle structure, and lightweight skeleton minimize the energy required for flight.
- Aerodynamic wings – Short, pointed wings provide lift on both the upstroke and downstroke to enable rapid wing beats.
- High metabolism – A hummingbird’s energy output per gram of tissue is among the highest of any animal, fueling sustained speed and maneuverability.
Streamlined beaks and bodies reduce drag as they accelerate. Powerful flight muscles comprise up to 30% of their body weight. Flexible shoulder joints allow full rotational movement of their wings.
How fast can other birds fly?
While hummingbirds are considered the fastest for their size, several larger bird species can reach higher overall flight speeds:
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine falcon is renowned for its speed in a hunting dive known as a stoop. Peregrines can reach 200 mph in a stoop, making them the fastest bird in level flight.
Frigatebird
Some frigatebird species have been measured at speeds over 95 mph in level flight. Their large size, long wings, and aerodynamic bodies contribute to fast flight.
Spine-tailed swift
This large swift has been recorded at speeds over 100 mph in level flight. It is sometimes called the world’s fastest bird in sustained horizontal flight.
Eurasian hobby
The Eurasian hobby is a slim falcon capable of rapid flight maneuvers. It clocks speeds over 60 mph when hunting dragonflies and other aerial prey.
Larger birds like albatrosses and swifts take advantage of their size, wing area, and streamlined bodies to reach high speeds. But for their tiny size, hummingbirds stand alone in speed and aerial agility.
How does flight speed vary across hummingbird species?
There is significant variation in flight capabilities across the over 300 hummingbird species. Some patterns include:
- Smaller species beat their wings faster than larger hummingbirds. For example, the 2-gram bee hummingbird has the highest known wing beat rate at 200 beats per second.
- Specialized courtship dives are faster in larger species. The 11-gram Anna’s hummingbird can reach 61 mph in a dive, compared to 51 mph for the 3-gram calliope hummingbird.
- Traplining species like hermits and sheartails are adapted for speed and endurance to efficiently visit nectar sources.
- High-altitude species like giant hummingbirds have more hemoglobin to thrive in thin air, but this likely slows them down at sea level.
Across the board, hummingbirds possess the anatomical traits for fast and sustained flight – their capabilities are simply scaled up or down with size and habitat.
Wing Loading and Flight Speed
Wing loading refers to the ratio of body weight to total wing area. In general, a higher wing loading allows faster flight among bird species. Hummingbirds have the highest wing loading of any birds. Here are wing loading values for several fast bird species:
Bird | Wing Loading |
---|---|
Ruby-throated hummingbird | 23 N/m2 |
Chimney swift | 11 N/m2 |
Peregrine falcon | 83 N/m2 |
The ruby-throated hummingbird has a higher wing loading than the larger chimney swift, allowing greater agility and speed despite its tiny size.
How does hummingbird flight ability compare to insects?
Several insects like hawk moths and dragonflies are also highly maneuverable flyers capable of reaching high speeds for their size. But hummingbirds distinguish themselves in a few key ways:
- Sustained speed – Hummingbirds can maintain rapid wing beats for extended durations due to their high metabolism.
- Control – Hummingbirds can precisely hover and rapidly change direction, unlike most insects.
- Complex behaviors – Hummingbirds perform dynamic aerial courtship displays, requiring greater neurological coordination than insects.
In a sprint, some insects may briefly overtake hummingbirds. But sustained velocity, aerial agility, and complex flying behaviors set hummingbird flight apart from all insects.
Conclusion
In summary, hummingbirds are considered the fastest birds in terms of wing speed, maneuverability, and their size. Adaptations like lightweight bodies, enlarged flight muscles, and highly mobile wings enable wing beat frequencies up to 80 times per second and precise hovering ability. During courtship dives, hummingbirds can reach speeds over 60 mph, which is the highest documented velocity for their tiny size class. Larger birds can reach higher overall speeds, but they cannot match the agility and sustained flight of hummingbirds across diverse aerial behaviors.