Let me introduce you to the Bee hummingbird, a charming little creature with a striking appearance. It boasts an iridescent red head and turquoise upper body, making it quite a sight to behold. Notably, this tiny nectar drinker holds the title for being the world’s smallest bird.
The bee hummingbird, also known as the zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) holds the title for being the tiniest known living bird species on the planet. These little birds are so small that they can easily be compared to bumblebees and weigh even less than a single Canadian or U.S. penny. They typically measure around 1.97 – 2.36 inches or 5 – 6 cm in length, which includes their beak and tail. Furthermore, they only weigh between 0.06 – 0.07 oz or 1.6 – 1.9 g.
During breeding season, male bee hummingbirds have a shiny, red-pink head, chin, and throat. They also have an iridescent gorget (throat patch) and extended lateral plumes. The upper part of their plumage is bluish, while their under plumage is generally greyish-white. It’s important to note that their colorful plumage is only visible during the breeding season and falls off shortly after.
The upper feathers of the female bird have a bluish-green tone, while the ones below are whitish or pale grey. The tips of her outer tail feathers are white. Young male birds have a resemblance to adult females.
The Bee Hummingbird is native to Cuba, a beautiful island located in the Caribbean just below Florida, USA. They can be found in various areas such as Habana, which is the capital of Cuba, Sierra de Anafe, Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Zapata Swamp, Moa, MayarÃ, and also along the coast of Guantánamo.
The natural habitat of these birds is mainly in thick coastal forests and forest borders. However, you can also find them in mountainous valleys, swampland, interior forests, and gardens. They particularly thrive in areas where the Solandra Grandiflora plant grows since it’s their preferred source of nectar. While they can survive in both high-altitude and low-altitude areas, they seem to favor living in lowland regions.
The Bee hummingbird sustains itself mainly by drinking nectar from various types of flowers, including those that are small and brightly colored. They have the potential to visit up to 1,500 flowers daily, from trees, herbs, shrubs, and epiphytes. These petite birds also occasionally drink sugar water from hummingbird feeders, or from birdbaths or water fountains. During this time, they might either sip hovering over the surface, or settle on the edge to drink like other birds. However, they don’t linger in one spot for very long. Another important source of nutrition is protein, which they get from small insects and spiders. These are especially necessary during the breeding season, so the young can develop properly. The insects are often caught while they’re flying, or taken from webs or vegetation. A female nesting Bee hummingbird could potentially capture up to 2,000 insects per day.
These birds prefer to live and migrate alone, except during breeding season when the males participate in mating with females. They do not form pair bonds and instead, males gather in groups called leks to perform courtship rituals through various songs to attract females. The female selects a mate based on his performance, and it’s likely that she will mate with multiple males. Nest building and chick rearing are solely the responsibility of the female. She builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and strengthens it with spider webbing to allow for stretching as the chicks grow. The average clutch size is two pea-sized white eggs, which the female incubates alone for 14 to 16 days. After hatching, the chicks are brooded only for the first week or two and are left alone even on cooler nights after about 12 days, likely due to the small nest size. The chicks leave the nest when they are 18 to 38 days old, while the male defends his territory and the flowers he feeds on.
The Bee Hummingbird was once abundant and found in many places, but sadly, it is now scarce and limited to specific areas. The primary danger to its survival is due to the loss of its natural habitat. Cuba has undergone extensive agricultural development resulting in significant changes to its natural landscape, with only a small percentage of land remaining untouched.
The population of these birds has been decreasing over time, causing them to be labeled as Near Threatened.
Observe the avian creature in the footage displayed underneath: