How Fast Is Hummingbird Wingbeat?

Hummingbird wings beat 80 times per second normally — and up to 200 times per second in courtship dives. Their wingtips hit 50 m/s, and their hearts beat 1,260 times per minute to power that intensity of flight.

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards — their wings rotate at the shoulder in a figure-eight pattern that generates lift on both up and down strokes.

• Wingtips at 50 m/s
• Heart beats 1,260 times per minute