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Reviews
Hummingbirds: Jewelled Messengers (2012)
The evolution and behavior of hummingbirds
This is a fascinating documentary about hummingbirds - the world's most accomplished fliers. This tiny bird evolved in Brazil to feed on nectar, and so pollinate plants. There is spectacular high-speed film of the birds in flight: the wings beat over 50 times a second and rotate to allow the hummingbird to hover and even fly backwards so that it can feed on flowers and catch insects. The beak and tongue of many species of hummingbird have adapted to allow them to feed on particular flowers. Their heart beats 1200 times a minute in flight, but falls to 40 beats per minute at night when they go into torpor to save energy. There are descriptions of their plumage (which uses diffraction to change color), courting, nesting, territorial behavior, and migration from Canada to Central America. David Attenborough is, as always, a superb narrator.