What is the only bird that can fly backwards?

The only bird that can fly backwards is the hummingbird. Its unusual flight comes from wings that rotate in a near-horizontal figure-eight, generating lift on both the forward and backward strokes.

Most birds propel themselves by sweeping their wings up and down, which makes sustained backward flight extremely difficult. Hummingbirds instead have highly flexible shoulder joints and can control each wing independently. This lets them hover, reverse direction, and even fly sideways with remarkable precision while feeding from flowers.

The ability is especially useful because hummingbirds often hover in front of blossoms while inserting their long bills and tongues to reach nectar. They also eat tiny insects for protein. Although many birds can briefly move backward by fluttering or changing direction, the hummingbird is the only bird known for controlled, sustained backward flight. There are more than 350 recognized hummingbird species, all native to the Americas.