Hummingbird #2 Gallery
Green Violetear 2388
The Green Violetear (Colibri thalassinus) belongs to the order Apodiformes which is shared by Hummingbirds with swifts. The name Apodiformes derives from the Greek words "a pous," meaning "without foot." While apidiforms actually do have feet, their feet are quite small and their legs short and relatively weak. Thus, hummingbirds cannot walk, and so rarely if ever land on the ground as quick escape from predators is virtually impossible. All hummingbirds further belong to the family Trochilidae, which is exclusive to the Americas. Hummingbirds are the only birds which have the ability to rotate the entire wing at the shoulders, permitting them to hover and even to fly backwards.