They fly backward, dive-bomb rivals and travel farther than most road trippers. Meet the rufous hummingbird—photographed in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, United States. The bird, one of nine species in the genus Selasphorus, gets its name from its rusty, reddish-orange feathers. Males flash copper backs and red throat patches that shimmer in the sun. Females are more subdued but still carry streaks of rufous on their sides and tails.

They may look sweet, but these pollinators are known for their aggressive behaviour, often chasing away not just other hummingbirds, but also bees and butterflies. At around 7 centimetres long, this nectar-seeker is a frequent flyer in the most literal sense. Each year, it migrates from Mexico to Alaska and back—a round-trip of up to 13,000 kilometres. That's one of the longest migrations relative to body size in the bird world. And here's the kicker: many return to the exact same gardens and feeders year after year.

Whether you're planting flowers or peering through binoculars as one zips by, take a moment to slow down and marvel at something tiny but mighty.