Why do hummingbirds hover?
For grown-ups: the science
Hummingbirds hover because their fast wings push air down and hold them up.
Hummingbirds generate lift during both the downstroke and upstroke by rotating and sweeping their wings in a figure-eight-like motion. This lets them produce enough lift to hover while feeding from flowers.
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Transcript
A hummingbird hangs beside a bright flower. How can it stay in one spot in the air?
Hummingbirds flap their wings very fast, making air move down. The pushed-down air helps hold the bird up.
Their wings can swing forward and backward, like tiny paddles. This lets them make lift without moving ahead.
Hovering helps a hummingbird sip nectar from flowers. It can reach a bloom without landing on it.
So hummingbirds hover by pushing air down with their speedy, special wings.