Hummingbirds are a fast-flying, acrobatic New World birds capable of beating their wings 720 to 5,400 times per minute. It’s these quick wing movements that produce the characteristic hum we hear when they hover.
Seeking to understanding the sounds produced by these tiny birds’ fast-moving wings, one research team created an “acoustic hologram” of hovering Anna’s Hummingbirds using over 2,000 microphones. They found that oscillating lift and drag forces on each wing generate a harmonic with a unique timbre, much like the sound produced by a musical instrument.
Another study utilized high-speed video (see one here) to learn how Black-tailed Trainbearers produce a series of loud snaps during high-speed dives. Originally thought to be made by their long tails or by striking their wings together, the team found that they are somehow made by the birds’ wings during deep wingbeats.