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There are approximately 340 different species of hummingbirds known to science. The number isn't exact because our understanding of how hummingbirds are related to one another is constantly changing, and scientists are still discovering new species in remote parts of the American tropics.

Answer2:

I came across this wonderful article in the 8/1980 Awake magazine pgs 26-28 entitled "Hummingbirds-Fascinating Feathered Acrobats" - The birds name is derived from the sound made by it's wings. Because hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, in Brazil they are called "flower kissers." Their wing muscles make them such outstanding fliers. These represent an unusual 25-30 percent of the whole body weight. Ordinary birds flap their wings up and down, hummingbirds winglets pivot forward and backward, like oars. The effect is much like the performance of a helicopter rotor. The rotor tilts when the helicoptor moves forward and backward. A hummingbird does the same with its wings. Only a hummingbird can rise vertically and instantaneously. A hummingbird is the only bird able to go in reverse. The plan of the wing simply tilts backwards. Whoosh! There goes another hummingbird.

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9y ago

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