Hummingbirds flap their wings at an incredibly fast rate, typically around 50 to 80 times per second while hovering. For example, the bee hummingbird, the smallest species, can flap its wings up to 80 times per second
. Other species like the ruby-throated hummingbird flap about 50 times per second, and the rufous hummingbird between 52 to 62 times per second
. During special behaviors such as courtship dives, some species can flap their wings even faster, with the ruby-throated hummingbird reaching up to 200 wingbeats per second in these displays
. The wing movement is not a simple flap but a figure-8 rotation, allowing them to hover, fly backwards, and maneuver with great agility
. In summary, hummingbird wingbeat speed ranges roughly from 50 to 80 times per second in normal flight, with exceptional bursts up to 200 times per second during courtship
