Hummingbirds in Flight

Hummingbirds in Flight

Hummingbirds are fascinating birds that are always fun to watch. These birds are able to hover in mid-air, dart from side to side, go straight up or down, or even backwards. They can out-fly and out-maneuver birds hundreds of times their size. There are many factors that contribute to the hummingbirds' ability to fly so easily through the air.

A hummingbird's wings are shaped so that they are slightly rounded on the top. Bernoulli's Principle explains why this helps the bird to fly. The air passing over the top of the wing must travel further than the air going under the wing. As the hummingbird moves forward, the velocity of the fluid increases over the wing and the pressure above the wing is reduced. The higher pressure under the hummingbird's wing provides lift for the bird.

Hummingbirds have unusually strong muscles that enable them to raise and lower their wings with great power. As the Hummingbirds thrust their wings up and down, they fly into the air with amazing agility and speed. The sleek outline of the bird and smooth feathers create little drag as the bird darts through the air. Hummingbirds have even been seen flying upside down!

Another factor that helps explain how hummingbirds fly is called Archimedes Principle. The hummingbird stays in the air at a high altitude because it is held up by a buoyant force. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the volume of fluid it displaces. The Venturi effect is evident when the hummingbird holds it's wings close to it's body. The rapid air flow helps the bird maneuver quickly.

Hummingbirds are the world's smallest birds but they are probably the most interesting to watch. It's rounded wings, and strong chest muscles enable it to fly ,seemingly effortlessly, through the sky. Their bright, colorful, feathers change colors in the sunlight and people all over enjoy watching these tiny birds. Hummingbirds are undisputed champions of the sky.