Why do hummingbirds flutter so fast?

Unless you have a "lynx view", detect a Hummingbird in its natural environment is quite complicated.The flight speed makes them almost undetectable, unless we just catch it by taking nectar from a flower.
One of its many common names is "zunzun", which makes reference to the sound produced by the flutter of a hummingbird, like a buzzing sound.In this article of Animal Expert we will talk about because hummingbirds flutter very fast , their speed and other curiosities.

Characteristics of hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are birds belonging to a subfamily of apodiform birds (small-legged birds) called Trochilinae , they are commonly called picaflor, because of their way of obtaining food.There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, spread across the Americas, but where there is a greater diversity is in Central America.
They are usually birds of small size, among them is the smallest bird in the world, the hummingbird zunzuncito ( Mellisuga helenae ), which measures no more than 5.5 centimeters from beak to tail.Although there is also the giant hummingbird ( Patagona gigas ), which measures about 25 centimeters.
In addition to the flight, one of the most fascinating characteristics of this animal is its beak.It usually has a conical, straight and elongated shape, but others can have an upward or downward curvature, they can even have spikes almost as long as its body.
Some species of hummingbird have coevolved with the plant species To which they usually feed, for example the Heliconia tortuosa plant has co-evolved with two species of hummingbirds, the green hermit hummingbird (Phaethornis guy) and the purple hummingbird ( Campylopterus hemileucurus ), so that only these two types of birds can feed on the nectar of this flower (due to the depth to which it is found), in addition the plant obtains a rapid and effective pollination.
The vast majority of hummingbird species have very striking colors that serve to mimic their surroundings.
Why do hummingbirds flutter so fast?

How many times does a hummingbird move its wings per second?

Perhaps, the most characteristic feature of hummingbirds is their way of flying, unique among birds.Some researchers say that the flight of a hummingbird is more similar to the flight of insects than that of birds , since it can fly upwards, downwards and even backwards or backwards, they can even remain flying in the air at the same point, something fundamental so that they can feed.
An average hummingbird can beat the wings up to 53 times per second.The fastest recorded speed was 80 beats per second in the amethyst hummingbird (Calliphlox amethystina) and, the slowest, that of the giant hummingbird ( Patagona gigas ), only a few 10-15 times per second.
Hummingbirds need to flutter so fast to keep themselves "immobile" in the air while they take the nectar from the flowers.In addition, this kind of fast flight can make them invisible to the predators.

Flight dynamics of the hummingbird

The size of the wings of a hummingbird is very small compared to the body.This, together with the design of the wings of a hummingbird, is very different from that of other birds.Having very small wings helps you to rise and reduce the resistance of the air in order to stay in flight optimizing the energy.
For these animals, this type of wings is essential, because their legs are very weak and could not stand for a long time while They eat the flowers.
Why do hummingbirds flutter so fast?

At what speed does a hummingbird's heart beat?

To maintain the speed of the wings, the heart of a hummingbird must also beat very fast, around 1,260 beats per minute, although this speed can drop to 50 beats per minute during hibernation.
When the amount of food available for the hummingbird wanes, they are able to enter a state of hibernation in order to increase the chances of survival.
This high heart rate makes hummingbirds the animals with the highest metabolic rate in the animal kingdom.By comparison, if a human being had the same metabolic rate as a hummingbird, he would need to eat 129 kilograms of meat daily to maintain himself.
The respiratory rate of these animals is also very high, even while at rest, a hummingbird can breathe 250 times per minute.
Despite this, hummingbirds are relatively long-lived animals, reaching some species at 5 years of age.
Why do hummingbirds flutter so fast?

If you want to read more articles similar to that hummingbirds flutter very fast? , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.
Bibliography

Altshuler, DL, Dudley, R.&Ellington, CP2004.Aerodynamic forces of revolving hummingbird wings and wing models.Journal of zoology, 264 (4), 327-332.
Altshuler, DL, Dudley, R., Heredia, SM,&McGuire, JA2010.Allometry of hummingbird lifting performance.Journal of Experimental Biology, 213 (5), 725-734.
Tobalske, BW, Warrick, DR, Clark, CJ , Powers, DR, Hedrick, TL, Hyder, GA,&Biewener, AA2007.Three-dimensional kinematics of hummingbird flight.Journal of Experimental Biology, 210 (13), 2368-2382.
Warrick , DR, Tobalske, BW,&Powers, DR2005.Aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird.Nature, 435 (7045), 1094.

Comments

Dog breeds not recognized by the FCI

The FCI is the worldwide canine organization that approves pedigree dogs.There are several dog breeds not recognized by the FCI , even if they meet all the requirements to be considered "pure" breeds from the phylogenetic point of view. In this Animals and Pets Onlinet article We explain to you what these breeds are and why they are not recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale . Do not forget that the breed of the dog is not important unless you want to participate in morphology competitions canine.Read more: In many cases, breeds are not recognized by the FCI because they do not have a detailed written standard .In other cases because they do not meet the requirements established by the FCI.And in other cases, simply because no canine person or organization has bothered Evade the procedure so that these races are recognized by the FCI. It is also possible that political aspects outside the canine organizations have prevented the international diffu...

Urea high in dogs - Symptoms and treatment

Sometimes, we need to perform a blood test to our dog.It may be because he is ill and we try to reach a diagnosis or as part of a complete review, which is recommended in dogs older than seven years.Within the parameters that are analyzed in a blood test is urea. In this article by ExpertAnimal we will explain what high urea means in dogs , since it is usually the most frequent alteration of this parameter, although it may also appear low, as we will see. Urea The urea is a component of urine and is the residue generated by the metabolism of proteins that takes place in the human body, mainly in the liver .Yes, the urea present in the urine is the result of this metabolism and, also, of the breakdown of body cells. The liver is passed to the kidneys and from these the elimination takes place in the form of urine.If there is any problem in these organs it will result in alterations in the urea level.In a diet with an excess of proteins we could also find the urea eleva...

How to know if my rabbit is male or female?

Rabbits are adorable and very intelligent animals , which is why they are increasingly popular as companion animals.Likewise, their tender appearance and small size make them good companions for apartments. When you recently adopt a rabbit, or when a litter of rabbits has been born, you may not know the sex of each one, so we will help you discover it.If you want to discover how to know if your rabbit is male or female , keep reading this article from Animal Expert. When can you see the sex of your rabbit? It is important to note that in newborn rabbits knowing sex is almost impossible , especially if you have no experience in it.However, if you have a partner or a litter it is very important to know if they are female or male, whether you want to give them up for adoption or to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, as rabbits reproduce quickly and at an early age. From the eighth week will be a good time to examine your rabbits for indicators of their sex.Rabbits are extremely ner...

How do bees reproduce?

Before explaining how bees reproduce, it is necessary to know the types that exist, since they are organized in a well-defined society in which each individual fulfills specific functions. These are the types of bees : Queen bee The queen bee is the hive matriarch and mother of all the bees that form it It is the female fertil , so only she reproduces.But how does a bee become queen? When they are still larvae, certain bees are selected and reared in larger vertical cells compared to those used for worker bees. When it goes from larva to pupa, the bee devours its cell to leave , after which she faces other possible queen bees to determine who will be the leader of the hive.The queen bee lives between 3 and 5 years and constantly releases pheromones that help her control the activities of the beehive. The queen bee is distinguished by being larger and longer than the rest, it shows developed myu ovaries and a pointless stinger. Drone bee Drones are the only hiv...

Why does my hedgehog bite me?

First of all, you should know that biting is not a habitual behavior in the hedgehogs , not even when defending against possible dangers, at which time, in fact, they prefer to use the action of their fists to protect themselves and hurt those who dare to get too close.That is why if your hedgehog starts to bite you, hurts you or not, you need to know why it does it to detect possible ailments, understand it better or even avoid future behaviors unwanted. Here are the main reasons why these small animals tend to use their teeth: He is sick Physical discomfort caused by A disease can cause the hedgehog to bite you if you try to load and pet it, because, just as it happens with yourself, when he gets sick the least he wants is to be disturbed.This way, the hedgehog will try to get it back to his cage to continue resting. Without emb argo, if it is a disease, it must be accompanied by certain signs, such as drooping of the puas or poor appearance of them, pruritus, tiredness...

Why is my cat very aggressive with other cats?

Did you know that aggressiveness Is it one of the most frequent problems in cats? Although obviously not for that reason we must fall into the error of associating cats with aggressiveness, since they are really domestic animals whose behavior is usually very calm.However, a cat is not a dog and therefore does not present the same level of sociability.A cat does not have to accept another cat, on many occasions, it does not even accept the presence of members of the human family in the corners that he considers to be his exclusive domain. These characteristics make up the genuine character of felines, which can sometimes become problematic.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we explain why your cat is very aggressive with other cats and how to act. Why aggression among cats? Have you decided to host more than one cat at home? This can be a good option, since each one will benefit from the presence of the other but, it also increases the risk that cats can develop aggr...

The mysticism that surrounds cats

There are many legends of witches that have been preserved until today and all of them They give us a pretty grotesque image of the sorceresses, with the classic wart on the nose.Did you know that this wart was understood as a third nipple that served to breastfeed cats? Yes, that's right, these Animals were conceived for a long time as the companions of the witches, but in other times throughout the history of mankind they were also perceived as authentic Gods. Few animals are as genuine as the cat and few animals They contain so much mystery, there are many mystical stories that feature our feline friends.Do you want to meet them? In this Animals and Pets Online article we talk about the mysticism that surrounds cats . The cat sees everything We can observe in our cat numerous comical behaviors, but surely, we will also observe strange behaviors, sudden jumps, meows facing a fixed point where there is apparently nothing out of the ordinary... In ancient Egypt the cats...

How to play with a cat?

The game is a fundamental activity for the cat And it will depend on a healthy physical constitution, as well as a positive emotional state.If you see your cat cleaning itself excessively, eating compulsively or sleeping more than 18 hours a day, you can consider that there is a problem related to stress , which you can help channel with a positive game and interaction routine. In addition, it is often common for domestic cats to have limited hunting behavior , innate in their kind, what usually causes frustration or redirection of the behavior, which is shown as a direct attack on the hands or ankles of the owner. In this article of Animal Expert we will show you everything you need to know about how to play with a cat , recommending toys , they explain Give in detail the feline behaviors related to the game and hunting and also giving you ideas and advice to improve your quality of life.Take note! Why is playing with a cat so important? The lifestyle significantly inf...

Tips for training a Weimar pointer

A little history The Weimar braco, also known as Gray Ghost, thanks to the shades of its fur, ranging from mouse gray to silver gray, is a breed dog of German origin .Receive the name of Grand Duke Carl August of Weimar. On the appearance of this breed, some theories trace the German shorthaired as a descendant of the gray Leithhunde, while others place him in the family of the St.Hubert.What is known for sure is that by the end of the 18th century this dog breed was bred.At this time it was a court dog, bred and trained only by professional trainers, who were responsible for making the appropriate crosses until the Weimar shorthaired as we know it today is developed. It is considered one of the oldest dog breeds , especially the short-haired variety, although the weimaraner can also have long hair. Characteristics of Weimar Braco As we said, the fur can be short or long , in different shades of gray.It is a slender dog, whose size ranges from medium to large.Safe and energ...

How to prevent my dog from scratching a wound?

Do you share your home with a dog? Then surely you will have already realized how complex your pet's health can be, since our furry friends are susceptible to numerous conditions, just as it happens to us. It is important that the owner has some basic knowledge about first aid in dogs, however, we must know that these are intended to perform a rapid and urgent intervention, but not to replace veterinary care.However, so important is that the dog goes to the veterinarian whenever I need it as we do a proper follow-up at home. If your dog has ever suffered a topical injury you have probably asked yourself "How to prevent my dog from scratching a dog? wound ? " In this article of Animals and Pets Online we explain it to you. Scratching and licking the wound When you suffer an annoying mosquito bite you have probably scratched yourself tirelessly, in some cases, we can even cause a slight wound with the scratch, and it is that scratching a wound or injury that caus...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog