Which bird can fly backward, making it the only bird known to do so?

The hummingbird is the only bird known to fly backward.

Hummingbirds achieve this unusual movement by rotating their wings so that lift is produced during both the forward and backward strokes. Their wings move in a figure-eight pattern, allowing them to hover, brake quickly and reverse without turning their bodies around.

They are found naturally only in the Americas, from Alaska and Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Most species feed on flower nectar, but they also take small insects and spiders, which supply important protein. Their long bills and specialized tongues help them reach nectar in tubular flowers.

The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest known bird species. Despite their tiny size, hummingbirds have exceptionally high metabolisms and may enter torpor at night to conserve energy.