> ![quote] via [James Lynch](https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKKXPjnxCrfjtkdtrjMslQrsfwzgzTSlZKXmQsFrZHWvgvmvhwRFNWWNSlvjpRSrwgpL) > > it's not just mosquitos that use tornadoes (also called leading-edge vortices because they tend to stick to the "leading" edge of the wing), it's basically every flapping insect (bees, flies, moths, beetles, etc.) that can hover - PLUS hummingbirds! The reason why has a lot to do with size: when you get really small, it gets harder and harder to glide through the air the way that large birds do. When you're tiny, flapping ends up being your best way to control where you're going and avoid falling out of the sky. > > Hummingbirds end up being a really interesting case where they're small enough that they need to flap rather than glide, but they're also birds who can control the shape of their wings. Bret Tobalske has done some really interesting work looking at how they fly using high-speed cameras and computer simulations, producing some really amazing videos. You should check out thermal regulation in hummingbirds too - their metabolism runs much, much faster than humans, and therefore they have some really interesting adaptations to cope. This is a follow-up to: [[2022-03-21 Wings]]