How hummingbirds stay nimble on the wing

Like other modes of locomotion, powered flight is characterized by an ability to quickly change direction and speed. This ability—termed maneuverability—has far-reaching implications for animal success and survival ( 1 , 2 ) but is challenging to study because it includes a wide range of distinct behaviors and is characterized by spontaneity. As a result, understanding of maneuverability is incomplete at best ( 2 – 4 ). On page 653 of this issue, Dakin et al. ( 5 ) probe the evolution of flight maneuverability in hummingbirds, which can hover with precision and skillfully use a wide range of acrobatic maneuvers (see the photos). They show that a small number of underlying traits can explain much of the diversity of maneuvering flight in hummingbirds.