Hummingbirds really are the only birds that can fly backwards,
but no one can explain why they would ever want to...
Some hummingbirds can fly at speeds greater than 33 miles per hour. A hummingbird's wing beats take up so much energy, they spend the majority of their time resting on branches and twigs. It's the only way they ever get a chance to have a smoke and contemplate their existance...
Anything that hovers in order to drink nectar or sugar water needs to be able to fly backwards as well. Same reason your car has a reverse gear. You don't use it much, but when you need it, you need it.
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