Exploring the Tiny Marvel: Meet the Smallest Bird in the World, Adorned with Shimmering Reds and Turquoise Glitters

Let’s just say he’s not the brightest bulb in the box, but with his shimmering red head and turquoise upper body, he’s definitely hard to miss. This little guy is known as the Bee hummingbird, and holds the title for the world’s smallest bird.

The Mellisuga helepana, also known as the bee hummingbird, zonzucito, or Helena hummingbird, holds the distinction of being the smallest living bird on the planet. They are so tiny that they can be compared to bumblebees, and they are even lighter than a Canadian or US penny. These birds typically measure between 1.97 to 2.36 inches or 5 to 6 cm in length, including their beak and tail, and their weight ranges from 0.06 to 0.07 oz or 1.6 to 1.9 g.

Male bee hummingbirds have a shiny red-pink head, chin, and throat, as well as an iridescent gorget or throat patch and elongated lateral plumes. Their upper plumage is bluish, while the rest of their underplumage is predominantly grayish white. The male’s colorful plumage is visible only during breeding season and is quickly shed afterward.

The upper feathers of the female bird have a bluish-green hue while the feathers below are of a pale grey or whitish shade. The tip of her outer tail feathers is white in color. The young male birds bear a resemblance to the adult females.

The Bee Hummingbird can be found in the beautiful island of Cuba, which is located south of Florida, USA. It is a natural occurrence in the region. You can also spot these tiny birds in certain areas such as Havana (the capital city), Sierra de Anafe, Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Zapata Swamp, Moa, Mayarí, and the coast of Guantanamo. Although their population may not be widespread, they can still be observed in these stunning locations.

These birds are commonly found in coastal forests and forest edges, but can also be seen in mountain valleys, interior forests, swampland, and gardens. They have a particular affinity for areas where the Solandra Grandiflora plant grows, as this vine provides them with their preferred source of nectar. While they can survive in both high and low altitude environments, it seems that these birds have a preference for lowland areas.

Hummingbirds that buzz around like bees prefer to drink nectar from a variety of small flowers that are brightly colored and have pleasant scents. These flowers can be found on trees, shrubs, herbs, and epiphytes. On average, they consume up to 1,500 flowers in a day. Sometimes, they may also visit local hummingbird feeders for sugary water or drink from birdbaths or water fountains. They either hover and sip water as it flows over the edge or perch and drink like other birds. However, they don’t stay still for long. Hummingbirds also eat small spiders and insects, which provide them with necessary protein. This is particularly important during breeding season to ensure the proper development of their young. They catch insects while flying (hawking), pluck them off leaves or branches, or take them from spider webs. A single female bird can catch up to 2,000 insects a day.

These birds live a solitary life except during breeding season, where the male’s only involvement is mating with the female. They do not form pairs and either live or migrate in flocks. Males participate in competitive courtship rituals by forming leks, where they sing various songs to attract females. Females may visit several leks and select a mate based on his performance. A single male can mate with multiple females, and females are likely to mate with multiple males as well. Mating can occur while hovering in the air or on a perch. The males do not participate in nest building or raising chicks. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest made of plant fibers, woven together with green moss for camouflage, and locates it in a protected location on a shrub, bush, or tree. She lines the nest with soft plant fibers, animal hair, and feather down, and strengthens the structure with spider webbing and other sticky material. The average clutch consists of two pea-sized white eggs, which she incubates alone for 14 to 16 days while the male defends his territory. The chicks leave the nest when they are about 18 to 38 days old after being brooded by the female for the first week or two and left alone even on cooler nights after about 12 days.

Once a commonly sighted bird, the Bee Hummingbird is now a rare and geographically limited species. Its survival is majorly threatened by the loss of its natural habitat. A considerable portion of Cuba’s land has been converted for agricultural purposes, leaving only 15-20% of its natural vegetation intact.