Speed demon!
Anna's Hummingbird wings beat about 40-50 times per second during flight.
They zoom about 25mph in normal flight and up to 40mph in a courtship dive. The male Anna's Hummingbirds’ courtship dive is quite a sight. They hurtle up to 130 feet in the air, plummet earthward, and swoop up in a 'J' formation; then at the bottom of the dive, use their tail feathers to make a loud chirp.
Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop, though their feet can be used to scoot sideways while they are perched. They do not suck nectar through their long bills, but instead lick it up with fringed, forked tongues. They can consume up to 50% of their weight in nectar each day.
The nest is slightly bigger than a walnut, and the egg contained therein is about the size of a small jellybean.
Learn more about the Anna's Hummingbird in David Assmann's bird blog:
Springtime Stirrings
The Avian Changing of the Guard
Why Woodpeckers Don’t Get Headaches*
Photo by David Assmann. Do not reproduce pictures without permission.
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