Watch How Hummingbirds Fly, Feed and Hover in This Amazing Slow-Motion Video from Nat Geo

The tiny hummingbird is an amazing creature with the ability to move so fast that the human eye can only perceive the blur of wings and a splash of color. This amazing slow-motion video from National Geographic provides a sharp, clear view of how hummingbirds go about their lives.

Living exclusively in the Americas, these colorful flying creatures are the world’s smallest birds with some tipping the scales at a mere 0.07 ounces (2g). The so-called “giant” hummingbirds of Peru and Chile weigh in at a whopping 0.7 ounces (20g). Not only are hummingbirds fast and tiny, but they’re also the only birds with the ability to hover.

Hummingbirds have the fastest metabolic rate of any vertebrate on the planet, and they’re the only birds with a “reverse gear” that enables them to fly backwards.

Watch the video below and prepare to be amazed. You can find more fascinating content on science, nature, and exploration by visiting National Geographic’s YouTube channel. Be sure to look at another slow-motion video from Nat Geo we shared revealing the intricate way ladybugs fold their wings, as well as our earlier slow-motion video of a hummingbird that was shot with an iPhone

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