Fast Facts: Hummingbirds – Part IV

Carl Kerby

Welcome to Fast Facts with Reasons for Hope! I’m Carl Kerby.

You’re just in time to take a look at one of the most spectacular designs of all time – the hummingbird’s wings.

This marvel of flight perfection is one that man has tried to mimic in drones and wind turbines because no other winged creature can match the hummingbird’s agility.

The hummingbird’s wings can efficiently hover and fly forwards, backwards, and even upside down.

They also beat at around eighty times, and up to two hundred times, a SECOND! This means they can gain an incredible speed of up to sixty miles an hour – usually when they are swooping in a courtship dive to show off! 

The hummingbird’s wings move in a unique, figure eight pattern. By twisting the upper arm bones, they gain lift from the upstroke as well as the downstroke of each flap.

All that rapid movement creates the hum from which the hummingbird gets its name. Wow – what a marvel!

Check back for more incredible Fast Facts of God’s designs. Until then… stay bold!

Karl Kerby is the founder of Reasons for Hope and co-creator of the DeBunked apologetic video series. His radio feature, Fast Facts, is heard weekly on VCY America, Saturdays at 9:25 AM Central.

Leave a Reply