Hummingbirds are some of the smallest birds in the world. Their tiny size and rapid wing beats make them unique among birds. Many people wonder if there are any other birds that are as diminutive as hummingbirds. The answer is yes – there are a few other birds that rival hummingbirds in their miniature stature.
The Bee Hummingbird
The bee hummingbird is the smallest living bird in the world. Native to Cuba, this tiny bird measures just 2 inches long from bill to tail. They weigh less than a penny. Because of their extremely small size, bee hummingbirds sometimes get mistaken for insects. They feed on nectar from small flowers.
The Calliope Hummingbird
One of the smallest birds found in North America is the Calliope hummingbird. Named after the muse Calliope, these hummingbirds reach lengths of 2.75-3.5 inches. Their wingspan is about 4.5 inches wide. Calliope hummingbirds have beautiful iridescent throats in shades of purple and green. They are found along the Pacific Coast and westward through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and into Montana.
The Elegant Trogon
The elegant trogon is found in canyons and forests of southwestern North America. They have vibrant green, red, blue and yellow feathers. These birds reach lengths of 11-12 inches and weigh 1.5-1.8 ounces. Relative to its body size, the elegant trogon has a very large beak. Their short tails and colorful plumage make them stand out among other birds of the region.
The Goldcrest
Considered the smallest bird in Europe, the goldcrest measures just 3.5-4.3 inches long. Weighing 4-7 grams, these tiny songbirds flutter their wings up to 80 times per second! Goldcrests thrive in coniferous forests and can be found in Europe, North Africa and across Asia. Despite their diminutive size, they make one of the longest migrations of any European bird – flying from Europe to north Africa each winter.
Wilson’s Warbler
Wilson’s warblers are small migratory birds with blue-gray feathers on their heads and yellow bellies. They breed in Canada and the western United States before migrating to Mexico and farther south for the winter. Their small size of just 4-5 inches makes them one of the tiniest passerines in North America. Wilson’s warblers eat insects and build neatly woven cup nests on the ground or low in bushes.
The Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant
One of the world’s smallest passerines, the short-tailed pygmy tyrant measures just 3.5 inches long. These tiny birds live in South America, inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions from sea level up to 6,500 feet. Their overall gray plumage helps them blend in with the bark and lichens of trees. Despite its name, the short-tailed pygmy tyrant is not closely related to true tyrant flycatchers.
Wren Species
The family of small, active birds known as wrens contains some of the smallest birds in the world. For example, the Eurasian wren reaches lengths of just 3-3.75 inches and weighs 5-12 grams. Other miniature wrens include the cactus wren, canyon wren, and rock wren of North America and the grass wren of South America.
Smaller Species of Old World Warblers
There are several species of diminutive Old World warblers that rival hummingbirds in size, such as the greenish warbler, green warbler, Pallas’s leaf warbler, yellow-browed warbler, and Arctic warbler. Most range from 3.5-4.75 inches in length and weigh just 5-10 grams.
The Black-capped Chickadee
The black-capped chickadee is a tiny North American songbird that does not migrate. These plucky birds measure just 4.5-5.75 inches in length. Chickadees are known for their large round heads, black caps and white cheeks. They have gray wings and tails and light bellies. Chickadees thrive in mixed forests across North America from Alaska to Canada down into the U.S. They are highly social and travel in flocks.
The Gray-headed Chickadee
Very similar to the black-capped chickadee, the gray-headed chickadee is also tiny at just 4-5.5 inches long. These birds live in the mountain forests of Mexico and Central America. They have gray heads, black bibs, white cheeks, and olive-colored bodies. Their high-pitched chick-a-dee call is a familiar sound in their mountain forest habitat.
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
The blue-gray gnatcatcher lives up to its name with blue-gray feathers covering its slim 4.5-5 inch body. They flutter through trees looking for insects and spiders to eat. When breeding, the male performs a delicate bouncing courtship dance to attract females. Blue-gray gnatcatchers breed in the southern and southwestern United States before migrating to Mexico and Central America for winter.
Verdin
Verdins are tiny grey-yellow songbirds of the southwestern United States and Mexico. They inhabit scrublands and desert washes. At 4-4.5 inches long, they are one of the smallest passerines found in North America. Verdins build intricate hanging nests out of twigs, lined with feathers and plant down. They forage in flocks for insects, spiders and fruit.
Bushtits
The bushtit is a tiny North American songbird reaching 4-5 inches in length. They have gray-brown plumage, short fan-shaped tails and tiny dark eyes. Bushtits breed in woodlands and scrublands of western North America. They build elaborate hanging nests out of mosses, lichens and spiderwebs. These hyperactive birds travel in large flocks while foraging for insects and spiders.
Conclusion
While the bee hummingbird holds the record as the smallest bird, there are many other species that come close to rivaling its tiny size. Calliope hummingbirds, elegant trogons, goldcrests, various warblers, wrens, chickadees, gnatcatchers, verdins and bushtits all measure under 5 inches long. So while the bee hummingbird is the tiniest, these other minute birds give it competition as some of the smallest in the world.
