Look up in the sky - It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a ...
hummingbird! Those fragile-looking little flecks of light and
noise that flit to and fro are not nearly as delicate as they
might seem. Looking like dainty little fairies in their plumage
of sparkly feathers, hummingbirds are really tough old birds
that will fight fiercely to defend a territory or fly thousands
of miles solo on their annual migration. Don't let their small
size mislead you, for these miniature flyers are really little
super heroes in disguise. Just imagine all you could accomplish
if you could move your arms as fast as the wings of the
hummingbird. Actual wing speed varies with species, but the
hummingbirds that frequent our valley move their wings at an
average speed of 40 to 50 beats per second. This incredible
speed is achieved from a combination of features. The
hummingbird's average weight is only about 0.13 ounces, 25
percent to 30 percent of which is pure muscle. Additionally, its
shoulder joints have a unique design, allowing