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?
▼
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).
Share This Trivia
Want More Nostalgia?
Check out our other quizzes and random trivia questions!
More Trivia
- What is the best-selling Barbie doll?
- How many times does the word "dude" appear in The Big Lebowski?
- Which animal is able to sleep with one eye open?
- Who was originally cast as the alien in "Predator"?
- What was Carrie's go-to drink in "Sex and the City"?
- Who is the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy?
- Name the movie: "Alright, alright, alright"
- What cause was the focus of Live Aid's fundraising efforts?