Wikipedia:POTD column/July 11, 2006



Hummingbirds are small birds in the family Trochilidae. They are known for their ability to hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings, 15 to 80 times per second (depending on the size of the bird). Unlike other bird species capable of limited hovering, the hummingbird is alone in its ability to fly deliberately backwards or vertically, and to maintain position for drinking from flower blossoms. They are named for the characteristic hum made by their wings. Hummingbirds are found only in the Americas, from southern Canada and Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, including the West Indies. The majority of species occur in tropical Central and South America, but several species also breed in temperate areas.

Illustration credit: Ernst Haeckel Archive - More featured pictures...