How to Do the Humming Bird Card Trick

Make a playing card spin and flutter like a Hummingbird.

In magic, the more visual a trick is, the bigger the reaction from the audience. Expensive routines and gimmicks are routinely advertised for their visual impact. Named for the small, fast-moving bird, the hummingbird card trick is a very old, simple and striking levitation effect in which a performer appears to levitate a spinning card between his hands. When executed by a practiced magician, it is enough to amaze any audience.

Things You'll Need

• Invisible thread
• Clear tape
• Playing card or credit card

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of invisible magician's thread to about the length of your arm. Large amounts of the specialty thread can be purchased from any magic shop very cheaply.

2. Tape one end of the string to your shirt, up near your shoulder. If your dominant hand for the illusion will be your right hand, tape the string to the right shoulder. Do the opposite if you're left-handed.

3. Tape the other end of the string to the top of the card you're using. At this point, when you're not holding the string, the card should just suspend from your shirt.

4. Take the card in your hands and put your fingers on opposite corners. From this position, you can easily give the card a lot of spin.

5. Make sure the invisible thread is in the curve between the index finger and thumb. When you spin the card out of your hands you'll need a way to keep the card from swinging back and hitting your body. If the string rests in that curve, you can control the card's distance from your body.

6. Spin the card out of your hands, keeping the hand holding the thread away from you and above the card. Drop the other hand underneath the card. The card will spin freely between your two hands.

7. Wiggle your fingers on both hands to add to the telekinetic effect.

References

• YouTube: Hummingbird Card in Performance With Explanation