The flight of the hummingbird is quite unique because of their ability to maintain sustained hovering as well as their ability to fly backward, being the only group of birds able to do so. Hummingbirds may also fly vertically and laterally.
If you have ever wondered what makes hummingbirds so agile and maneuverable, then this video is just what you have been looking for because it will provide you with the answer. Tyson Hedrick, assistant professor of biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, talks about his research, which seeks to explain the flight mechanics of hummingbirds and other winged creatures.
It is believed that this research also might help lead to the development of more effective aerial robotics. Hedrick’s study appears in the April 10, 2009, issue of the journal Science.