Super Hummingbirds. (Nature). 54 min. Dist. by PBS. 2016. $24.99. UPC 0841887030106. Blu-ray $29.99. ISBN 9781627899086.

Gr 6 Up –They are the smallest birds in the world, but what makes hummingbirds so difficult to see is their speed of flight. With the assistance of special high-speed photography and creative camera work, viewers will finally be able to observe the unique and fast-paced world of this fascinating species. Probably too few realize that hummingbirds have “superpowers,” such as flying backward or floating suspended in the air. Moreover, they can accelerate or go up or down in an instant. Their tongues move almost as fast their wings. Two University of Connecticut graduate students wanted to find out exactly what happens when hummingbirds feed on the nectar of a flower. How are these small birds capable of feeding from flower after flower, and how much nectar can they hold? Their project captures the exact process, and students are able to view the speed with which these creatures lap the nectar. They also learn that the birds’ tongues are forked with a fringe of tiny filaments that help them fill up with nectar. This video is a beautiful, detailed study of a fascinating species that is found only in the Americas. VERDICT This film would serve as an excellent resource for middle or high school collections for further study of birds or unique animals in nature.–Sheila Acosta, San Antonio Public Library

This review was published in the School Library Journal January 2017 issue.