Hummingbirds are some of the smallest birds in the world, captivating people with their diminutive size, captivating colors, and ability to hover in midair as their wings beat up to 80 times per second. But just how small are hummingbirds? The size of full grown hummingbirds varies by species, but they measure just 3 to 5 inches long on average. Their tiny builds allow them to nimbly fly from flower to flower, lapping up nectar with their long tongues. While hummingbirds may be petite, they are mighty and fascinating creatures.
Average Length of Full Grown Hummingbirds
The average length of full grown hummingbirds ranges from 3 to 5 inches long. Here is a breakdown of the average size of some common hummingbird species:
| Species | Average Length |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
| Calliope Hummingbird | 3 inches |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 3.75 inches |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 4 inches |
| Costa’s Hummingbird | 3.75 inches |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
As you can see, most full grown hummingbirds measure between 3 to 4 inches in length. The smallest is the Calliope hummingbird at just 3 inches long. The largest common hummingbird is the Anna’s hummingbird, reaching 4 inches in length. But all hummingbird species are remarkably tiny for birds.
Length of Specific Body Parts
Beyond the overall body length, the dimensions of specific body parts further demonstrate how petite hummingbirds are:
- Wingspan: 3 to 4.5 inches
- Beak length: 0.6 to 1.1 inches
- Tail length: 0.8 to 1.6 inches
- Body mass: 2 to 6 grams
As you can see, even their wings and tails are only a few inches long. Their miniscule beaks allow them to efficiently drink nectar, while their lightweight body mass allows them to hover and fly with great agility.
How Hummingbird Size Compares to Other Birds
To fully appreciate how small hummingbirds are, it helps to compare their size to other common birds:
| Bird | Length |
|---|---|
| Hummingbird | 3 to 5 inches |
| Goldfinch | 4 to 5 inches |
| Chickadee | 5 to 6 inches |
| Sparrow | 5 to 7 inches |
| Robin | 8 to 11 inches |
| Crow | 16 to 21 inches |
| Bald Eagle | 28 to 38 inches |
This comparison shows that hummingbirds are much smaller than well-known birds like robins, crows, and eagles. They are built on a tiny scale. Goldfinches often rival hummingbirds in their petite stature. But no other family of birds in North America comes close to matching the consistently tiny proportions of hummingbirds. Their small size sets them apart from all other birds.
Reasons for Hummingbird’s Miniature Size
So why are hummingbirds so remarkably small compared to most other bird species? There are a few key evolutionary adaptations that led to their miniature dimensions:
- Allows great maneuverability and hover ability for feeding on nectar from flowers.
- Enables highly efficient metabolism and rapid heart rate necessary for their active lifestyle.
- Permits survival and nesting in small spaces and tunnels.
- Provides ability to regulate body heat quickly and thrive in hot climates.
Being so diminutive provides hummingbirds with several advantages that aid their survival. Overall, their extremely small size is an evolutionary development that allows them to nimbly feed, nest, fly, and live as tiny but mighty birds.
Weight of Full Grown Hummingbirds
In addition to their petite length, hummingbirds are exceptionally light in weight. Here are the average weights of full grown hummingbird species:
| Species | Weight |
|---|---|
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3 to 6 grams |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 3 to 4 grams |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 4 to 6 grams |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 3 to 4 grams |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 3 to 5 grams |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 3 to 4 grams |
As these examples show, even the largest hummingbird species only reach about 6 grams in weight. That’s about the weight of a penny! The lightweight body structure of hummingbirds allows them to hover and fly with great agility as they flick their wings at high speeds to stay aloft. Their tiny weight contributes to their ability to nimbly maneuver through the air on their quest for nectar.
Heaviest Hummingbird Species
While most hummingbirds weigh just 3 to 6 grams, a few larger species stand out as the heaviest hummingbirds:
- Giant Hummingbird – 18 to 24 grams
- White-eared Hummingbird – 7 to 10 grams
- Violet-crowned Hummingbird – 7 to 9 grams
- Green Violetear – 7 to 8 grams
These larger species represent the heavyweights in the hummingbird family. But even the largest Giant Hummingbird still only weighs about as much as a tablespoon of water. So while these species may be heavier compared to other hummingbirds, they are still remarkably tiny and lightweight birds.
Wingspan of Full Grown Hummingbirds
In addition to their miniscule size and weight, hummingbirds have very small wingspans:
| Species | Wingspan |
|---|---|
| Calliope Hummingbird | 3 inches |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3.5 inches |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 4 inches |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 4.5 inches |
Their wingspans range from just 3 to 4.5 inches. To put that in perspective, a dollar bill is 6.14 inches wide, so their entire wingspan is shorter than a dollar bill! Their tiny wing surface area contributes to their incredible ability to beat their wings rapidly and create the sustained hovering for which hummingbirds are known. The greater maneuverability afforded by their small wings allows them to adeptly access flower nectar.
Largest Hummingbird Wingspans
Very few hummingbird species have wingspans larger than 5 inches. The most noteworthy are:
- Giant Hummingbird – 5.9 inches
- White-eared Hummingbird – 5.5 inches
- Green-breasted Mango – 5.1 inches
- Sparkling Violetear – 5 inches
While these species represent the upper limits of hummingbird wingspans, they still measure less than the width of the average human hand. So even the hummingbirds with the most sizeable wingspans have very small wings compared to nearly all other birds. Their petite wingspans contribute greatly to their distinction as the tiniest of birds.
Difference Between Males and Females
In most hummingbird species, the males and females are similarly sized. But in some species, the males are slightly larger:
| Species | Male Size | Female Size |
|---|---|---|
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 4 inches | 3.75 inches |
| Costa’s Hummingbird | 3.75 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 3.75 inches | 3.5 inches |
For these hummingbirds, the males may be up to a 1/4 inch longer than the females. This slight size difference is thought to provide some advantages to males when defending breeding territories or attracting mates. But overall, male and female hummingbirds are built on a very small scale regardless of these minor size variations between the sexes.
Color Differences Between Males and Females
In addition to minor size differences, male and female hummingbirds often differ noticeably in coloration:
- Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a bright red throat, while females have a pale throat.
- Male Anna’s Hummingbirds have a rose-pink crown and throat, while females lack that rosy color.
- Male Costa’s Hummingbirds have a purple crown, while females lack crown coloring.
- Male Allen’s Hummingbirds have an orange-red throat patch, while females have a speckled throat.
The more colorful, iridescent plumage of males is thought to help attract females. But despite these gender differences in coloration, male and female hummingbirds are similarly tiny in build. Their miniscule size unites them as perfectly petite birds.
Nest and Egg Size
In addition to having tiny bodies, hummingbirds build remarkably small nests:
- Nest diameter: Typically 2 to 3 inches wide
- Nest height: Usually 1 to 1.5 inches tall
- Nest weight: Around half an ounce when empty
Their nests are only about the size of a walnut shell. They use spider silk and plant down to construct a compact cup-shaped nest for raising chicks.
Hummingbird eggs are also teensy:
- Length: 0.5 inches
- Width: 0.3 inches
- Weight: 0.1 grams
Their eggs measure smaller than a jellybean! The female bird’s body heat keeps the tiny eggs warm as they incubate. The diminutive nests and eggs fit with the extremely small scale of hummingbirds.
Young Hummingbirds
Baby hummingbirds hatch from pea-sized eggs weighing just over 1/10 of a gram. Here is how they measure when they first hatch:
- Length: 0.6 inches
- Weight: 0.1 grams
Newly hatched chicks are about the size of a bumblebee! They develop quickly under the devoted care of their mothers. Within a few weeks, the young hummingbirds are ready to stretch their wings and leave the nest. By two months of age, they reach adult size. Their rapid development allows them to survive despite being the smallest baby birds in the world. The young hummingbirds hatch with everything they need to grow into perfectly petite, entrancing adults.
Growth Rate of Hummingbird Chicks
After starting life the size of an insect, hummingbird chicks grow astonishingly fast. Here are details on their growth rate:
- Hatchling weight: 0.1 grams
- Weight at 5 days old: 0.5 grams
- Weight at 10 days old: 1.5 grams
- Weight at 15 days old: 3 grams
- Adult weight: 3 to 6 grams
Their weight increases exponentially within just two weeks of hatching. Reaching full adult weight and size in just a couple months enables them to join their tiny tribe of hummingbirds flitting through the flowers.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds captivate people with their diminutive proportions and delicate beauty. Full grown hummingbirds measure just 3 to 5 inches in length and weigh only 3 to 6 grams. Even their wings and tails are just a few inches long. Compared to other birds, they are exceptionally tiny. A few species stand out as the largest hummingbirds, but they are still remarkably small compared to all other birds. Male hummingbirds are in some cases slightly larger than females, but all hummingbird species share a miniature body structure. From their petite nests and eggs to their rapid growth from tiny hatchlings, hummingbirds are perfectly adapted for surviving and thriving in miniature. Their extremely small size sets them apart as nature’s tiniest, most captivating birds.
