"Hummingbirds, called huitzillin ("wee-TZEEL-een") in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, are one of the most recognizable and striking species in the avian world. While these pollinators are known in the Western imagination for their vibrant features, extreme metabolism, and diminutive size, the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica, particularly the Aztecs, identified these extraordinary birds with war, blood, and sacrifice. The most notable physiological aspect of hummingbirds is their tiny, lightweight, and extremely maneuverable bodies."
"The most unique quality of these creatures, however, is their maneuverability. Hummingbird wing strokes are powerful when flapping both up and down, and they are the only vertebrates capable of hovering for long periods of time. Their wings, beating about 70 times per second in direct flight and 200 times per second during a dive, allow hummingbirds to fly upside-down as well as backwards."
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds, with species like the bee hummingbird weighing about 1.95 grams. Eggs can be pea-sized and nests can be walnut-shell-sized, constructed from plant matter and spider webs. These birds display fearlessness and aggression, sometimes attacking much larger creatures. Exceptional maneuverability allows powerful wing strokes up and down, sustained hovering, backward and upside-down flight, and dive wingbeats up to 200 times per second. Flight speeds reach about 45 mph (72 km/h). Heart rates can reach 1,200 beats per minute in flight compared with roughly 225 at rest. Diets include flower nectar, aerial insects, and occasionally sap. Aztec Nahuatl called them huitzillin and associated them with war, blood, and sacrifice.
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