Hummingbird Coloring Sheet

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Learning about How Fast Can a Hummingbird Fly? is made possible by: The Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum.

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How Fast Can a Hummingbird Fly?

Have you ever watched a hummingbird zip through the air? They are tiny, yet incredibly speedy. But exactly how fast can a hummingbird fly? Let’s dive into the amazing design of these little birds and discover just how quick they really are.

Different Birds, Different Flight Patterns

Before we explore hummingbird speeds, it’s fascinating to know that birds don’t all fly the same way. Some birds flap constantly, others glide or soar, and some hover in place. Hummingbirds fall into the unique category of birds that hover—flapping their wings very quickly to stay in one spot as they sip nectar from flowers.

How Fast Can Hummingbirds Really Go?

In normal flight, hummingbirds reach speeds of about 20-30 mph (32-48 kph). But that’s not even their top speed! Male hummingbirds, during their impressive mating displays, dive at speeds up to 60 mph (96 kph). Imagine something so tiny moving so quickly!

Let’s put a hummingbird’s speed to the test with a fun imaginary race. We’ll choose the speedy Anna’s hummingbird, which flies at about 30 mph during normal flight. Who would win in these races?

• Hummingbird vs. Honeybee: Hummingbird wins! Honeybees only fly about 20 mph.
• Hummingbird vs. Cheetah: Cheetah wins, sprinting at 75-80 mph!
• Hummingbird vs. Black Marlin: Black marlin wins with bursts up to 80 mph!
• Hummingbird vs. Greyhound Dog: Greyhound wins, running about 45 mph.
• Hummingbird vs. Roadrunner: Hummingbird wins! Roadrunners top out at about 26 mph.

Even though the hummingbird didn’t win every race, their speed is incredibly impressive for their tiny size.

What’s the Secret to Their Speed?

Hummingbirds flap their wings about 70 times per second—that’s 4,200 times per minute! Their wings move so quickly, they’re just a blur to our eyes. To support this rapid movement, hummingbirds have remarkably strong, tiny hearts. A hummingbird’s heart makes up about 2.5% of its body weight—much larger proportionally compared to a human heart, which is just 0.3% of our body weight.

This strong heart beats up to 1,200 times per minute, supplying the energy hummingbirds need to visit up to 2,000 flowers each day! God designed hummingbirds perfectly to carry out their vital role as pollinators, spreading pollen and helping plants grow, just as described in Genesis 1:11-12.

Do These Speedy Birds Ever Rest?

With so much activity, do hummingbirds ever stop to rest? Absolutely! Sometimes you’ll spot a hummingbird perched quietly on a branch, known as their “lookout perch.” They also enter a deep state of rest called torpor, lowering their body temperature and saving energy. Torpor is so deep that hummingbirds can become unresponsive—even appearing dead—but they’re just deeply resting!

Learning from Hummingbirds: Resting for Better Living

Just like hummingbirds, we have important work to do. The Bible reminds us that God created us for meaningful tasks (Ephesians 2:10). And just as hummingbirds balance their busy days with periods of rest, we need rest too. Rest isn’t wasted time—it helps us live and work better, enhancing our ability to perform the tasks God has given us.

God Himself modeled rest after creating the world in six days, taking the seventh to enjoy His creation (Genesis 2:2). Although He doesn’t need rest, He knew we would. So next time you’re busy, remember the hummingbird, and take a moment to rest, recharge, and appreciate the good things around you.

So, how fast can a hummingbird fly? Faster than you might expect—and in a way that beautifully demonstrates God’s incredible design.