The smallest bird species in the world is the bee hummingbird. This tiny bird is found exclusively in Cuba and measures just 5-6 centimeters (2-2.5 inches) long with a weight of 1.6-2 grams (0.05-0.07 ounces).
Key Facts About the Bee Hummingbird
- Scientific name: Mellisuga helenae
- Length: 5-6 cm (2-2.5 inches)
- Weight: 1.6-2 g (0.05-0.07 oz)
- Wingspan: 5-6 cm (2-2.5 inches)
- Native habitat: Cuba
With its tiny size, the bee hummingbird holds the record as the smallest living bird in the world. It is so diminutive that it can perch comfortably on a human thumb.
Physical Description
The bee hummingbird gets its common name from its small size, which is comparable to a bee. It has a slender, elongated body with a long, slender bill and a rounded tail. Its wings are narrow and pointed.
The male bee hummingbird has colorful iridescent plumage in shimmering green on its head, throat and back. Its belly and tail coverts are white. The female is slightly duller in color than the male, with pale grey-green plumage on the head, back and tail. She has a white belly and white tips on the tail feathers.
Habitat and Diet
The bee hummingbird is found only in the islands of Cuba and Isle of Youth. Its preferred habitat is forest edges, woodlands, gardens and plantations with flowers and small trees.
This tiny bird feeds on nectar from flowers using its long bill to access nectar from different shaped flowers. It has a very fast metabolism and must consume nectar frequently throughout the day from as many as 1,000 flowers per day. It also eats small insects.
Flight and Behavior
The bee hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards. This agile flier can hover in midair, fly sideways, reverse and rotate with amazing speed and grace. Its tiny size allows it to maneuver easily around plants and flowers in its habitat.
During courtship displays, the male bee hummingbird climbs up to 130 feet in the air, then dives down past the female in a spectacular display. These tiny birds are known for their pugnacity and will aggressively defend their nests and flowers.
Breeding
The breeding season for bee hummingbirds runs from March to June. The female builds a tiny cup-shaped nest out of plant down, spider webs and lichen on a twig or branch. She lays two tiny white eggs.
The eggs are about the size of coffee beans – just 0.5 centimeters long. Incubation lasts 14-23 days. The chicks fledge in about 18-22 days. The bee hummingbird produces the smallest egg of all birds relative to its body size.
Threats and Conservation Status
While the bee hummingbird has a very small range limited to Cuba, its population is estimated to be stable so it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss from development, agriculture and logging pose threats to this tiny species. Fortunately, much of its range exists in protected areas.
Fun Facts About the Bee Hummingbird
- The bee hummingbird’s heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute.
- During flight, its wings beat around 80 times each second.
- It builds the smallest nest of all birds, only about half the size of a golf ball.
- It lays the smallest egg in the bird world relative to its body size.
- It has amazing agility in flight and is the only bird that can fly backwards.
Smallest Birds in the World
While the bee hummingbird holds the record as the world’s smallest bird, there are several other tiny bird species that come close:
Species | Length | Distribution |
---|---|---|
Bee Hummingbird | 5-6 cm | Cuba |
Vervain Hummingbird | 6-7 cm | Jamaica |
Lucifer Hummingbird | 7 cm | Caribbean islands |
Elf Hummingbird | 7-8 cm | Central America |
Bahama Woodstar | 7-9 cm | Bahamas |
Conclusion
With its minuscule stature of just 5-6 centimeters and 1.6-2 gram weight, the aptly named bee hummingbird is the tiniest bird in the world. This tiny avian resides only in Cuba, living among flowers and trees where it zips around feeding on nectar. Despite its tiny size, the bee hummingbird leads a dynamic life engaging in remarkable courtship displays, aggressively defending its territory and raising tiny chicks. Its high metabolism requires it to eat frequently, consuming over 1000 flower drops of nectar each day. While the bee hummingbird is the established record holder for smallest bird, several other hummingbirds found across the Caribbean come close in their diminutive sizes. But none can match the bee hummingbird’s tiny proportions.