LYCOS RETRIEVER 
The Hummingbirds: Wings
built 270 days ago
The hummingbird is one of the most fascinating of all birds. It got its name from the humming sound it makes when its wings flutter. Almost everything about the hummingbird is unusual. It is like a living helicopter. It is the only bird that can fly backwards, sideways, up and down, and it is ... the only bird that can hover. Its wings beat so fast that it can't be seen with the naked eye.
Source:
Since its wings must be used for long periods of time without rest, and since these wings move extremely fast, the hummingbird's breast muscles are huge in proportion to its size. They weigh about a third of its total weight, and the muscles used to draw the wings upward are almost as powerful as those that drive the wings down. In relation to its body size, the hummer ... has the largest heart in the bird world. A large, strong heart is needed to circulate the oxygen and nutrients needed for this bird's high-energy lifestyle.
Source:
Wing injuries pose a major problem for hummingbirds. The bird should be very gently examined with the least amount of stress to the bird. The bird should be given a nutritionally balanced diet or Lactated Ringers if it has not eaten or looks fluffed. If the bird is unable to fly or allows one wing to droop, there is probably a wing injury. A veterinarian should do the examination. A broken wing can begin to set as soon as 24 hours so it is important to treat the bird as soon as possible.
Source:
Hummingbirds lack a true song. Instead, they vocalize chirping notes. Most calls are short buzz trills and chirps. Hummingbirds' wings 'buzz' or make a whirring sound while the birds are in flight. This sound is referred to as a "wing whistle." Birds frequently vocalize to attract a mate.
Source:
To hover, the hummingbird tilts its body and wings into a more vertical position. This causes the main flight feathers to push air downward instead of backward. The downstroke and up-stroke provide lift but not forward movement. On the downstroke, the wings are tilted so that they force air downwards and the bird upwards. At the end of the downstroke, the wings twist 90 degrees. This forces air downward on the upstroke as well.
Source:
What makes the hummingbird so susceptible to glass - and each other - is the fabulous flight gear nature has provided. Its body can hum to a beat of up to 80 wing strokes per second. It can fly backwards, hover and rise like a helicopter and go from zero to 30 miles per hour in 20 feet. The bird is a natural wonder, one that few people ever tire of watching.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Wings