Have you ever watched a Ruby-throated Hummingbird stretch before?
Yes, they are elegant little gems but check out the second photograph below see what they look like in all of their awkward glory, lol!

From floof, to zoot, to sleek in just seconds…

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird boasts an average 55 wing beats per second. That’s pretty fast right?!
However, during mating season, males will fly back and forth in front of the female with a wing-beat rate of 200 per second during courtship displays.

These tiny birds even hold a Guinness record for its speed, which is probably why taking the time to stretch their incredible muscles is so important 😉
Photo by @sally_siko
Canon 5Ds