Hummingbirds & Pterodactyls Join the Flocks Template

Learn how to customize and animate your hummingbird’s flight path—from hovering to high-speed flapping—in this step-by-step tutorial.

The popular Flocks template just got more interesting! With its recent update, two new species have been added: hummingbirds and pterodactyls, bringing the total number of flying creatures to 14. In this post, we’re focusing on the hummingbird feature – what makes it different, how it works, and what you can customize.

Hummingbirds and Pterodactyls join the 12 other flying species included in the Flocks template.

What’s New with the Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are unique among the birds in the Flocks template. The first difference Flocks users will notice is there is not hummingbird flock, since hummingbirds are solitary. Second, hummingbirds tend to hover in place, requiring a complete re-build and some unique features not covered in the original Flocks tutorial. Here's a breakdown of what’s included in the new hummingbird tutorial:

New Feature: "Enable Angle-Based Layer Fade"

With the hummingbird, the Enable Angle-Based Layer Fade checkbox allows users to automatically fade out parts of the hummingbird as the camera becomes level with the flat layers, eliminating distracting lines.

When the Enable Angle-Based Layer Fade option is turned on, it eliminates the visual artifacts that show up during bird rotation in preview.

Flight Behavior & Hovering

The hummingbird’s flight dynamics are fully customizable:

• Auto-Tilting: As the bird speeds up, it automatically leans forward in flight. You can adjust how much tilt is applied or turn it off entirely.

• Hovering with Realistic Movement: Since hummingbirds hover in place, they require a bit more realism, so we’ve implemented automatic, lifelike movements to the head, tail, and body. Go with the default movements, or customize them with the controls.

• Wing Beats per Second: Adjust the BPS, position, angle, and auto-rotation of the wings. You can even slow them down to get a slow-motion effect.

 Manual Movements (with Puppet Pins)

There are also manual movement controls using the Puppet Pin effect, giving you complete control over your bird. You don’t need to mess with the pins themselves, all movements are controlled with convenient sliders. 

How to Build a Flight Path

The video tutorial walks you through creating a hummingbird flight path from scratch using keyframes. This includes leaning the bird as it changes direction, and smoothly transition from forward flight to hover.

A handy instruction layer acts like a checklist to guide you step by step for a smooth and believable flight path.

Want more than one hummingbird? Just duplicate the comp, rename it, and give the new bird its own customized control layer and flight plan.

The flight path of the hummingbird is controlled by key frames.

A Quick Reminder About the Full Flocks Template

If you haven’t tried the Flocks template before, it allows you to animate individual birds or generate 3D flocks with automatic flight behavior. Whether you need a single vulture gliding in the background, or a murmuration of thousands of starlings, this tool gives you incredible flexibility.

Speaking of murmurations—they’re available as a separate effect too, perfect for users who want that look without the full bundle. The synchronized flocking behavior is automatic, but you can also layer in your own 3D motion path for added control.

 Also Available: Flying Bats Template

For those looking for something a bit spookier, the Flying Bats template is sold both as part of the flocks template and separately as well. It lets you animate a single bat, or an entire colony – perfect for Halloween scenes or gothic animations.

 Want More for Your Buck?

Check out the Critter Collection Bundle, which includes not just the Flocks template but also:

• “Schools” (animate swimming fish)

• “Swarms” (animate a variety of flying insects)

Get all three at a discounted price and expand your animated ecosystem with all kinds of creatures—airborne, aquatic, or crawling.

The new hummingbird feature opens up tons of creative possibilities, and we can’t wait to see what you make with it. Be sure to check out the full tutorial, and stay tuned for a closer look at the new pterodactyls—coming soon!