Last Updated on October 24, 2021 by Guillermina
These tiny feathered hummingbirds are amazing flyers that we love to see in our yard. They are helicopter-like flying birds that tend to flap their wings so fast. With such vigorous flapping of wings, you may be wondering how many times does hummingbird flap its wings per second. Let’s find out.
It’s no doubt that hummers are fast-flying birds. They are capable of hovering in a spot meaning they will remain in the air without moving forward, backward, up, or down. They are simply amazing flyers. They also tend to flap their wings so fast that the wings generate that ‘hum’ sound.
In this article, we will be looking at how many times does a hummingbird flaps its wings per second and more info related to this. So, continue reading to know more about this.
How Fast Does A Hummingbird’s Wings Go?
There are over 360 species of hummingbirds known worldwide and most can be found in South America. Hummingbirds are known for their fast-flying acrobatic skills. When they are in their flight action, their wings move so fast that all you may only notice is a blur.
They have so many fascinating and special skills which make them interesting to watch by bird lovers. They tend to beat their wings in a figure-eight pattern that is similar to insects.
Hummingbird’s wings can go as fast as dozens of flaps in a second. Their rate of wing flapping majorly depends upon the species. Their wings can beat around 12 beats per second for bigger species and about 80 beats per second for smaller species.
How Many Times Does A Hummingbird Flap Its Wings In A Minute?
Hummingbirds have flexible wings that allow them to flap their wings so fast like a helicopter. As we said, a hummingbird’s wing flapping rate depends upon the species. Larger hummers can have about 12 beats per second and smaller hummers can have around 50 to 80 beats per second.
So to get the number of wing flapping per minute all you have to do is to simply multiply the seconds’ figure by 60. Therefore, smaller hummingbird species can have about 3,000 to 4,800 wing flaps per minute. Then bigger hummingbird species can have about 720 wing flaps per minute.
Let’s take a look at some hummingbird species and how many times they flap their wings per second or per minute:
How Many Times Does A Hummingbird Flap Its Wings Per Second
How Fast Can A Hummingbird’s Wings Beat? Generally speaking, the average wingbeat for North American hummingbirds species is about 53 beats per second and 3,180 beats per minute.
The fastest recorded hummingbird’s wing beat is about 80 beats in a second and this record is from the Amethyst wood-star hummingbird species. The Bee hummingbirds also have a similar wing beat of around 80 beats per second.
Then the lowest hummingbird wing beat is around 10 to 15 beats per second and they are from the Giant hummingbird species.
1. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Species: How Many Times Does A Hummingbird Flap Its Wings Per Second?
For example, the male Ruby-throated species can have about 50 beats per second when they are in their courtship flight. Hence, their wing flap beat per minute would be around 3,000.
2. Rufous Hummingbird Species
The Rufous hummingbird’s wings can flap as fast as 52 to 62 beats in a second. Hence, the flap or wingbeat for Rufous hummingbirds should be around 3,000 to 3,720 per minute.
3. Anna’s Hummingbird Species
Anna’s hummingbird species is one of the smallest birds known in the world. Their wings can flap around 40 to 50 in a second while they are in-flight action. Therefore, Anna’s hummingbirds tend to flap their wings around 2,400 to 3,000 in a minute.
4. Broad-tailed Hummingbird Species
Broad-tailed hummers tend to flap their wings around 50 wing beats per second during their flight mode. Hence, their wing beat per minute is around 3,000 beats.
5. Giant Hummingbird Species
Giant hummingbird species is the highest weighing hummers that weigh around 20 grams. This hummingbird species tend to beat their wings around 10 to 15 times per second. Therefore, Giant hummers can have about 600 to 900 wing beats per minute.
6. Bee Hummingbird Species
The Bee hummingbird is one of the smallest hummers known in the world weighing around 2 grams and 2 inches in length.
They are also fast-moving hummers that have their wings flapped about 70 to 80 beats per second. Meaning their wing beat per minute is around 4,200 to 4,800 beats while in their flight mode.
7. Amethyst Wood-star Hummingbird Species
Amethyst wood-star hummers have their wing flapped around 80 beats per second. This means they can flap their wings 4,800 per minute.
Hummingbirds Heart Rate
Just as hummingbird’s wings flap so fast, they also tend to have fast heart rates. Their vigorous or fast activities make their heart rate go so fast.
A hummingbird’s average heartbeat while in its flight state is around 1,200 beats per minute. However, when they are in their resting stage such as in a torpor state, their heart rate can go as low as 250 beats per minute. Hummingbirds go into a hibernation state at night called torpor and they tend to lower their heart rate during this period.
How Many Times Does A Hummingbird Flap Its Wings Per Second: Conclusion
Hummingbirds are fast acrobatic flyers that can hover around just like a helicopter. The number of times a hummingbird will flap its wings per second mainly depends on the species. Hummingbird’s flap wings can go dozens in just a second.
But generally speaking, hummingbirds can flap their wings around 10 to 80 beats per second which are about 600 to 4,800 beats per minute.
The bigger hummingbird species such as Giant hummingbirds tend to flap their wings 12 beats per second. Smaller hummingbirds on the other hand have an average wing beat of 50 to 80 beats per second.
Amethyst wood-star hummingbird species has the fastest recorded wing flapping which is about 80 beats per second and 4,800 beats per minute. The Bee hummingbird is also has a close record of about 70 to 80 beats per second.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have about 50 beats per second meaning their wing beat per minute is 3,000 beats. Rufous hummingbirds have 52 to 62 beats per second, so they have about 3,000 to 3,720 beats per minute.
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Eunice is a passionate lover of hummingbirds and all things nature. She loves to observe and study the tiny birds, learning about their unique behaviors and unique features. She has written a number of articles about hummingbirds and their habitats, which have been featured in a variety of publications. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting hummingbird sanctuaries and going on bird–watching trips in her local area. She also volunteers with local wildlife rescue organizations, helping to rehabilitate injured birds. When she’s not outdoors, Eunice can be found writing articles, creating bird–inspired art, and playing the flute.