Hummingbirds are some of the smallest birds found in the United States. With their bright, iridescent colors, ability to hover midair, and rapid wing beats, they are a favorite among birdwatchers. But are hummingbirds the absolute smallest birds in the country?
What is a hummingbird?
Hummingbirds are in the family Trochilidae and belong to the order Apodiformes. There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds in the world, the majority of which are found in South and Central America. In the United States, there are 16 regularly occurring species of hummingbirds, though up to two dozen species have been recorded in the country over time.
Hummingbirds are well known for their small size. They have short, rounded wings that allow them to hover and fly in any direction, including backwards. Their wing beats are incredibly fast, from 12 beats per second up to an astounding 80 beats per second. This rapid wing movement allows them to maintain hovering flight and is part of what creates the characteristic humming noise from which they get their name.
In addition to their diminutive size and rapid flight, hummingbirds have long, specially adapted beaks that allow them to reach nectar at the center of flowers. They have tongues that extend to lap up nectar. Hummingbirds can lick nectar up to 13 times per second. They prefer tubular-shaped flowers with lots of nectar, including cardinal flowers, bee balms, and trumpet vines. Hummingbirds also eat small insects for essential proteins.
Size and Weight of Hummingbirds
Most hummingbird species measure between 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length. Here are some size details of common hummingbird species in the United States:
| Species | Length (in) | Weight (oz) |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 3 – 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 3.9 | 0.1 |
| Rufous Hummingbird | 3.1 | 0.1 |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 3.5 | 0.1 |
As the table shows, even the largest hummingbird species found in the U.S. is still quite tiny. The Anna’s hummingbird reaches nearly 4 inches in length, while the diminutive ruby-throated hummingbird maxes out around 3.5 inches long. In terms of weight, hummingbirds weigh only a fraction of an ounce. The rufous hummingbird weighs just 0.1 ounces on average, equivalent to about 3 grams.
Other Very Small Birds in the United States
While hummingbirds are undoubtedly tiny, they are not the only petite birds found in the country. Here are some other birds that gives the hummingbird competition in the small size category:
Calliope Hummingbird
The calliope hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird in the United States. It measures just 2.75-3.5 inches in length and weighs 0.1-0.2 ounces. Native to the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast, these tiny hummingbirds have bright magenta throats and spend summers breeding in pine forests and meadows. They are feisty and aggressively defend their feeding territories.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
The golden-crowned kinglet is a tiny songbird that inhabites coniferous forests across North America. Weighing just 0.2 ounces and reaching 3.5-4.3 inches in length, it lives up to its name as one of the smallest songbirds on the continent. Despite its diminutive stature, the golden-crowned kinglet has a very loud voice. Its high-pitched call is distinctly out of proportion with its body size.
Pygmy Nuthatch
Found in pine forests of western North America, the pygmy nuthatch is one of the smallest nuthatch species. It measures just 3.5-4.3 inches and weighs 0.2 ounces. This tiny gray bird blends into tree bark very well. It walks head-first down trunks pecking at bark for insects. The pygmy nuthatch will stuff insects into crevices in bark to save for later.
The Bee Hummingbird: World’s Smallest Bird
While they are the smallest breed of hummingbirds in the United States, even smaller hummingbirds can be found further south. The bee hummingbird, found primarily in Cuba and the Isle of Youth, is the smallest bird species in the world measuring just 2-2.4 inches long and weighing 0.07 ounces. As its name suggests, the bee hummingbird is scarcely larger than a bee.
The bee hummingbird holds several world records related to its minuscule size including:
- Smallest living bird
- Smallest vertebrate
- Lightest bird species
Interestingly, the bee hummingbird produces the fastest wing beats – up to 200 per second – likely out of necessity for its survival. The high metabolic cost to power its wings relative to its tiny body size requires the bee hummingbird to consume more than half its weight in nectar each day.
Why Are Hummingbirds So Small?
Many people are curious why hummingbirds are so tiny. What benefits does their diminutive stature provide? Here are some of the key reasons hummingbirds have evolved to be so petite:
- Better maneuverability – Their small size and light weight allows hummingbirds to deftly maneuver in midair and hover in one place.
- Access to food sources – Their slender beaks and extendable tongues allow them to reach nectar at the center of flowers.
- High metabolism – Hummingbirds have extremely high metabolic rates to power their wings and require frequent feeding.
- Thermoregulation – Smaller bodies make it easier for hummingbirds to regulate their temperature and not overheat.
- Aggressiveness – Smaller size allows them to aggressively defend feeding territories.
Being smaller in size is an evolutionary advantage for hummingbirds in accessing food sources. It also aids their unique ability to hover in place while feeding.
Conclusion
While the hummingbird’s diminutive size seems tiny enough to hold the record for smallest bird, a few other birds in the United States can rival it. The calliope hummingbird is smaller in length than the bee hummingbird. Other tiny competitors include the golden-crowned kinglet and pygmy nuthatch. However, on average most hummingbirds are still smaller than these species. So while they may not be the absolute smallest, hummingbirds are certainly among the smallest regular breeding birds in the country. Their tiny size provides key evolutionary benefits that allow them to thrive.
