bee hummingbird
Quick Summary
The bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is the smallest bird in the world, native to Cuba. It measures about 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) from bill tip to tail tip and weighs approximately 2 grams.1
Hummingbirds, belonging to the family Trochilidae, are small birds known for their vibrant colors and specialized feathers, especially in males. They are found exclusively in the New World, with the greatest diversity in South America.2
These birds possess compact, muscular bodies and unique wing structures that allow them to fly forward, backward, up, down, and hover. Their wing beats can be extremely rapid, reaching up to 80 beats per second in smaller species. This agility is crucial for feeding on nectar and escaping predators.23
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hummingbirdNatural historyThe smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga, sometimes Calypte, helenae) of Cuba and the Isle of Pines, measures slightly more than 5.5 cm (2.2 inches), of which the bill and tail make up about half. Weighing about 2 g, this species is the smallest living bird and ranks with…
Read MoreThe smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga, sometimes Calypte, helenae) of Cuba and the Isle of Pines, measures slightly more than 5.5 cm (2.2 inches), of which the bill and tail make up about half. Weighing about 2 g, this species is the smallest living bird and ranks with…
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apodiformSize range and diversity of structure…smallest known species being the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) of Cuba, which is barely 62 mm (about 2.5 inches) from bill tip to tail tip. Even the largest member of the family, the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) of western South America, has a body only about the size of a…
Read More…smallest known species being the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) of Cuba, which is barely 62 mm (about 2.5 inches) from bill tip to tail tip. Even the largest member of the family, the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) of western South America, has a body only about the size of a…
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