The Fastest Hummingbird in the World

For such small creatures, hummingbirds are incredibly agile and capable of speeds you might not believe! But have you ever wondered out of all these speedy flyers, which hummingbird is the fastest in the world? Find out which is the fastest hummingbird and just how fast they can fly below.

What’s the Fastest Hummingbird?

The male Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is the fastest hummingbird in the world. This bird can fly faster than a fighter pilot!

Christopher James Clark at the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a study of male Anna’s hummingbirds diving during their courtship ritual. The results were pretty astounding – he found that male Anna’s Hummingbirds are capable of flying up to 385 body lengths per second (approximately 27.3 meters per second).

Unique Hummingbird Courtship

Male Anna’s Hummingbird courtship is a fascinating sight to behold and listen to! These birds aren’t only unique for being incredibly fast flyers – their courtship ritual also includes another element that sets them apart from other hummingbirds.  

Whilst hovering in mid-air, the male sings a song to their potential mate – the only hummingbird to sing during courtship. Next, they take off into the sky, and then comes the part that earns them the title of the fastest hummingbird – they dive incredibly fast towards their potential mate, abruptly pulling up and causing their wings to create a popping noise. Being able to witness their aerial stunts at great speeds is breathtaking! And of course that’s exactly what they’re hoping for in their attempts to woo potential mates.

Get to Know the Anna’s Hummingbird

Named after Anna Masséna, the Duchess of Rivoli, the Anna’s Hummingbird is a common sight along the western coast of North America and can often be seen throughout the winter as well as during the warmer months. Anna’s Hummingbirds measure around 4 to 4.3 inches in length, so they’re a medium-sized hummingbird.

Whereas the females tend to be mainly gray but may have some red on their throat, male Anna’s Hummingbirds are much more striking in appearance, with a stunning magenta pink/red throat patch (called a gorget), with the color often extending over their head.

Are Anna’s Hummingbirds Endangered?

According to the IUCN Red List, Anna’s Hummingbirds are not endangered, in fact they’re listed as a species of Least Concern, with numbers also increasing. The adult Anna Hummingbird population is estimated at around 9,600,000.

Anna’s Hummingbirds face challenges in the wild with loss of their habitat due to urbanization and climate change, however, they’ve adapted well to these challenges, helped by suitable nectar-rich flowering plants and nectar feeders provided in gardens. If you want to see Anna’s Hummingbirds in your own backyard, planting a hummingbird garden is a great way to attract them, plus you’ll be helping these important pollinators.

Male Anna's Hummingbirds are truly wonders of nature, with their impressive courtship rituals and incredible flying speeds, they've earned their accolade as the fastest hummingbird in the world. Celebrate hummingbirds and other pollinators with our pollinator clothing and gifts, including hummingbird hoodies, bee shirts, bat totes, and more!