God’s creative power can be observed in many ways. We see it in the depths of the universe, but also in the small things of our earth—in our case, one of the smallest birds in the world.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
The hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world, but it possesses abilities that are almost unique among birds. Its flight technique is particularly impressive. While it hovers in the air, its wings beat about 50 to 80 times per second, and during courtship flights even up to 200 times. Unlike most birds, it does not simply move its wings up and down, but traces a sideways figure eight. This creates lift both on the forward and on the backward stroke. This special way of flying enables it to hover in place, fly backward, and ascend vertically.
This extraordinary agility is made possible by a special body structure. The shoulder joint is extremely flexible and allows a strong twisting of the wings. At the same time, the elbow and wrist joints are almost immobile, making the wing act like a rigid paddle. About 40 percent of its body weight consists of powerful chest muscles that drive the rapid wingbeat. This complex interplay is controlled by a highly developed nervous system.
The hummingbird’s energy needs are enormous. Its metabolism is considered the highest of all vertebrates. In flight, its heart beats up to 1,200 times per minute, and even at rest it breathes up to 250 times per minute. To obtain enough energy, a hummingbird visits up to 2,000 flowers a day and feeds mainly on nectar. In addition, it eats small insects that supply it with important proteins.
Its tongue is also exceptionally designed. It is about twice as long as the beak and consists of two narrow tubes. When it touches the nectar, tiny flaps open that take in the liquid in fractions of a second. This sophisticated pumping system works thousands of times a day and enables the bird to take in food particularly efficiently.
The enormous flight performance generates a lot of heat. To keep the body from overheating, the hummingbird has several ways to cool itself. Its rapidly beating wings help to dissipate heat. In addition, it releases heat through its skin and beak, and frequent bathing also contributes to temperature regulation.
With its unique flight technique, its extraordinary metabolism, its specialized tongue, and its sophisticated cooling system, the hummingbird is one of the most fascinating birds on earth and shows how astonishingly diverse nature can be.
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