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Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are Intense Flyers

Ruby-throated hummingbird photo with words: I'm an Intense Flyer

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are masters of flight

Hummingbirds can beat their wings dozens of times per second, creating a humming noise:

  • Fine-tuned flying: These birds can instantly accelerate to full speed, then quickly stop and hover in place while adjusting their position in any direction.
  • Food fights: Males fiercely defend food sources and battle intruders in midair, often resulting in epic hovering fights with other hummingbirds—or less epic clashes with bumblebees.
  • Incredible journey: Most ruby-throated hummingbirds spend winter in Central America. During migration, some will cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight (the shortest route across is 500 miles).
map of typical ruby-throated hummingbird spring migration arrival date

Support for Bird the Preserves was generously provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through Chicago Wilderness.

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