| Flight Feathers Look at how small and delicate the hummingbird's feathers are. Their flight feathers are so thin that you can nearly see through them, but they are strong enough to flap at least 4 million times without a break when a hummer flies nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico during their fall and spring migrations. Their arms are very short, but they have ten long, powerful primary feathers. Their shoulder joints are so flexible that they can move their wings in nearly any direction. These adaptations help make hummers amazingly impressive fliers. They can fly sideways, backwards, upside down (when fighting), and even stay put in mid-air! |
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