MORE often than not, people today tend to spend most of their time looking down at their screens, so much so they seldom look up to marvel at the epitome of freedom - birds.
It's one of the main reasons why these majestic creatures and the things that they can do are often taken for granted and overlooked unless you're looking at them through your screen.
From flying really fast for hunting to flying really far as they migrate to the other side of the globe, millions of years of evolution has led to the impressive diversity of bird species we see today.
But of all the things a bird can do with their gift of flight, is it true that they cannot hit the reverse gear and fly backwards?
VERDICT:
FALSE
A lot of birds actually can move backwards, albeit for short distances; they do this by using external forces such as gravity or wind.
Most birds have strong muscles to pull the wing down but much weaker muscles to pull the wings back up so the air around the wing is forced backwards pushing the bird forward, and this is why most birds can't fly backwards on their own – the operative word here being “most” birds.
There is one, so behold hummingbirds, the true master of flight.
From hovering in one spot to flying backwards and sideways to even inverted, these grand champions of aerobatics have superior flying skills that can put Maverick to shame.
These fascinating skills are essential for a hummingbird's survivability.
Besides relying on berries and insects, hummingbirds also rely on nectar to provide them with the energy they need as well as keeping them hydrated.
Often dubbed “nature's helicopters”, its ability to change the direction of their flight without much effort grants them the skill to move from one flower to another in an efficient manner.
So what is their secret? It all comes down to the structure of a hummingbird's wings.
Hummingbirds have a ball and socket joint that allows for a greater span of movement, freeing their wings up to move in all directions.
These rotator cuffs allow the hummingbirds to move their wings in a figure of “8” movements, unlike the muscles and build of most birds.
Unfortunately, hummingbirds are restricted to the Americas, so keep an eye out for them if you find yourself in their neck of the woods!
Here's hoping this little piece of information may inspire you to look up and appreciate the enchanting creatures that we share the Earth with.
Sources:
https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-brain/can-birds-fly-backwards
https://birdfact.com/articles/can-birds-fly-backwards
https://voice.gardenbird.co.uk/birds-that-fly-backwards/
