Aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird
Hummingbirds and insects have evolved for sustained hovering flight from vastly different ancestral directions, and their distinct phylogenies underlie the differences in their aerodynamic styles. In all other birds—and, presumably, hummingbird ancestors—the downstroke provides 100% of weight support during slow flight and hovering. Given that many birds possess the mass-speciï¬c power (using anaerobic metabolism) to hover for short periods, the selective pressure on hummingbird ancestors was probably for increased efï¬ciency (resulting in stiff wings with greatly simpliï¬ed
kinematics), and an upstroke muscle (the supracoracoideus) that makes the recovery stroke rapid, while contributing enough to the hovering power requirements to allow the downstroke muscle (the pectoralis) to operate within its aerobic limits.
kinematics), and an upstroke muscle (the supracoracoideus) that makes the recovery stroke rapid, while contributing enough to the hovering power requirements to allow the downstroke muscle (the pectoralis) to operate within its aerobic limits.
In other words, this pseudosymmetrical wingbeat cycle is good enough, and although hummingbirds do not exhibit the elegant aerodynamic symmetry of insects, natural selection rewards ‘good enough’ as richly as it does our aesthetic ideals
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That’s really interesting! And I wonder at how many frames per second the video of the hummingbird had to be shot to give such a smooth image. It is so beautiful.
I wonder how this compares to Hummingbird Moths. The convergence of their evolved patterns is striking, especially when you have both in sight on flowers in front of you. The lower tail on both is reminiscent of a lobster tail.
These hummingbirds are just one of the most lovely and interesting creatures. It is a wonder but it is good that science can explain things like this. Thanks for the post.
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I grew up around hummingbirds, and there’s simply nothing like watching them buzz around your flower garden or feeders. There’s a dark side though – they fight, and use their pointy beaks like swords to stab at one-another in high speed.