Why hummingbirds don't bump into things

Hummingbirds hover in the air without bumping into flowers

Scientists have discovered the mystery of how hummingbirds are able to hover in the air without bumping into objects.

Findings show that the tiny bird have a 'acute sense of touch'.

This means they are able to sense changes in air pressure around them caused by objects.

They are then able to create a 3D body map of what is around them as gusts of air touch their wings.

Hummingbirds' "acute" sense of touch helps them to hover near a flower to feed without bumping into it

The birds create this 3D map of their body when neurones in their brain fire.

Neurons are nerve cells that send messages all over your body to allow you to do everything from talking, walking, and thinking.

For the hummingbirds this happens when gusts of air touch their feathers or the skin of their legs.

The study was led by experts at University of California, Los Angeles.

They said that the work adds to knowledge of how animals perceive and navigate in their worlds and can help identify ways to treat them more humanely.