Hummingbirds flap their wings at an incredibly fast rate that varies by species, generally ranging from about 10 to more than 80 times per second while hovering. For example, the ruby-throated hummingbird flaps its wings about 50 times per second, the rufous hummingbird about 52 to 62 times per second, and the bee hummingbird, the smallest, can flap up to 80 times per second. Some species, like certain male hummingbirds during courtship displays, can flap their wings even faster than this range. The wing motion is distinctively a figure-8 pattern, enabling them to hover and even fly backwards.
