The hummingbird is the only living bird known to fly backward.
Hummingbirds achieve this unusual movement by rotating their wings and producing lift during both the forward and backward strokes. Their shoulder joints allow a wide range of motion, enabling hovering, rapid acceleration, and controlled backward flight. This ability is especially useful when a bird leaves a flower without turning around.
There are more than 350 recognized hummingbird species, all native to the Americas. They are small, nectar-feeding birds, although they also eat tiny insects and spiders for protein. Their rapid wingbeats can produce the familiar humming sound, which inspired the group’s common name. Hummingbirds are often confused with sunbirds, but sunbirds belong to a different family and cannot match the hummingbird’s specialized hovering flight.