Can a hummingbird flapping at the same speed as an average small bird remain airborne?

Question

I was wondering this because it seems like hummingbirds have wings that are quite large for something that flaps 60 times per second. Is this kind of flapping only necessary for hovering, or are they like bees that have to flap impressively fast just to stay in the air. Also, if they don't, do you know the amount they would have to flap to hover without needing to move forwards? Just wondering.

Answer 1

First off, the is no such thing as the average bird. There are just too many difference across so many species.

No. Even at hover the wing speed required to maintain position is high. Hummingbirds evolved to use that speed and quick acceleration as a survival mechanism.

"WING BEATS: About 60-80 times per second in normal flight, up to 200 times per second in courtship dives"
http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUFactsMain.html

"But a hummingbird is a bird, with the physical structure of a bird and all of the related capabilities and limitations. It is not an insect, and it does not fly exactly like an insect."
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2005/06/24/hummingbird_flight_an_evolutionary_marvel.html

Neuromuscular Control of Hummingbird Flight
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~flight/research_hummingbird.html

Answer 2

No.

If a hummingbird is not flapping its wings at a very high rate, it is either falling towards the ground or lying there dead or injured.

No on can tell you precisely how many flaps per second (FPS) a hummer needs to hover, fly forward, or whatever, because it varies. A hummer that has just finished a large meal will need more FPS than one that has not eaten in a while to do the same thing.

Bear in mind that there are many species of hummingbirds and they vary somewhat in size and weight. The FPS they require will vary by their size and weigh.

Answer 3

Hummingbirds aren't angry. therefor, they wouldnt be in Angry Birds