The Heart-Pounding Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are fascinating birds known for their ability to hover mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings, around 70 times per second.

However, these unrivaled flyers have another remarkable characteristic – an incredible heartbeat.

The average human heart rate is around 60-100 beats per minute when at rest, but a hummingbirds' heart beats far faster.

During rest, their average heart rate is approximately 500-600 beats per minute, increasing to around 1200-1260 beats per minute during flight.

In other aspects of their metabolism, hummingbirds also excel.

Their energy demands are so high that they eat 1.5 to 3 times their body weight in food per day, consuming small insects and nectar.

In order to conserve energy while they sleep, hummingbirds enter a hibernation-like state known as torpor.

During this period, their heart rate and body temperature decrease dramatically until they awaken to start another busy day.

Such incredible physiological adaptations support their high-energy lifestyle..