When a bird flaps its wing forward it creates forces called 'lift' and 'thrust', which move the bird up and forward.
Hummingbirds can rotate their wings backward, which creates downward 'lift' and backward 'thrust'.
So by alternating flapping their wings forward and backward, the up and down forces and forward and back forces cancel each other out, so the hummingbird hovers in one place. Hudson Falls Middle School Hudson Falls, NY A. Male hummingbirds, along with many other animals, have what is known as a territory. A territory is simply an area that a male occupies and chases other males away from. A female hummingbird will visit a male's territory, at which time the male performs a courtship display to try to convince the female that he is the best male around. If she likes his display, she will mate with him.