What is the only bird that can fly backward?

Most birds treat the sky like a one-way street – forward or bust. But somewhere out there, one aerial rebel decided flight rules were more like flight suggestions. Between flips, spins, and mid-air reverses, this acrobat makes other birds look like they're stuck in traffic. So what's the only bird with a reverse gear?

Reveal answer and learn more:

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The answer is: Hummingbird

The humble hummingbird stands alone in the avian world as the only bird capable of true backward flight. While other birds might drift backward in a strong wind or awkwardly shuffle in reverse on foot, only these show-offs can deliberately zip backward through the air – and just to rub it in, they can hover in place and fly upside down too.

Their secret? Wings that rotate in a figure-8 pattern up to 80 times per second, pulling off moves that would make other birds dizzy just watching. That's like you clapping your hands 4,800 times per minute (please don't try this at home).

These pocket-sized pilots can even hit speeds of 30 mph in reverse. Their tiny bodies burn through nectar like a sports car burns fuel - in human terms, you'd need to drink a bathtub of sugar water daily to match their metabolism (again, please don't try this at home).