Hummingbirds are tiny powerhouses. They weigh between 2 and 20 grams (most less than 5 grams) and their wings beat around 40-80 times per second. Some have been clocked at around 200 beats per second.
Researchers observed hummingbirds using 12 high-speed cameras, 6 pressure plates and 2176 microphones. The soft and complex feathered wings generate sound in a fashion similar to how the simpler wings ...
A tiny bird fossil discovered in Wyoming offers clues to the precursors of swift and hummingbird wings. The fossil is unusual in having exceptionally well-preserved feathers, which allowed the ...