The short answer is no, there is no such thing as a bumblebee hummingbird. Hummingbirds and bumblebees are two completely separate types of animals.
What are hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are a family of small, fast flying birds native to the Americas. There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds. They are best known for their ability to hover in mid-air and fly backwards, as well as their fast metabolism and rapid wing-flapping.
Some key facts about hummingbirds:
- They are in the family Trochilidae
- They have iridescent plumage with bright, flashy colors like red, pink, orange, green, blue, and purple
- They have long, needle-like bills adapted for drinking nectar from flowers
- They can flap their wings up to 70 times per second, allowing them to hover and fly very quickly
- They have a very fast metabolism, with a heart rate of over 500 beats per minute while resting
- They eat mainly nectar and insects
- They are found naturally only in the Americas from Alaska to Chile
- Some species migrate long distances, while others are permanent residents in their habitat
- They are the smallest species of birds, ranging from 2.5 – 8.5 inches in length
- There are 344 species spread across 9 genera of hummingbirds
The ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most widespread and common hummingbird species in North America. Other popular species include the Rufous hummingbird, Allen’s hummingbird, Calliope hummingbird, and the Anna’s hummingbird.
What are bumblebees?
Bumblebees are a type of furry, flying insect in the genus Bombus. They are part of the bee family Apidae. There are over 250 different species of bumblebees. Some key facts about bumblebees:
- They are robust, fuzzy bees with black and yellow stripes.
- They live in small nests or colonies with a queen bee.
- They make nests in old rodent burrows, tree cavities, grassy tussocks, or manmade structures.
- Unlike honey bees, bumblebees do not store large quantities of honey.
- They feed on nectar and pollen.
- As they gather pollen from flowers, they pollinate plants.
- Most species live in temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Bumblebees are important pollinators for agricultural crops and wild plants.
- Some species can sting, but are generally not aggressive compared to other stinging insects.
Some common species in North America include the common eastern bumblebee, the yellow-banded bumblebee, and Buff-tailed bumblebee.
Key Differences Between Hummingbirds and Bumblebees
While they are both small, winged creatures, hummingbirds and bumblebees are very different animals. Here are some of the key differences:
- Hummingbirds are birds while bumblebees are insects.
- Hummingbirds have feathers and bumblebees have fuzzy bodies with an exoskeleton.
- Hummingbirds have slender beaks while bumblebees have stubby appendages for gathering pollen.
- Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and insects while bumblebees feed exclusively on plant nectar and pollen.
- Hummingbirds live on their own while bumblebees live in colonies with a queen.
- Hummingbirds migrate over long distances while bumblebees generally stay in a local area year-round.
- Hummingbirds hover and fly backwards easily while bumblebees fly forward only.
- Hummingbirds make chirping sounds while bumblebees buzz as they fly.
- Hummingbirds spread pollen between flowers incidentally as they feed while bumblebees intentionally gather and spread pollen to pollinate plants.
In summary, hummingbirds are unique birds adapted to hover and drink flower nectar. Bumblebees are fuzzy, social insects that purposefully gather and spread pollen. There are no creatures that combine the physical and behavioral traits of these very different animals.
Conclusion
Based on the clear taxonomic and biological differences between hummingbirds and bumblebees, there is no such thing as a “bumblebee hummingbird.” This would be an anatomically and genetically impossible hybrid animal. While they are both small flying creatures that visit flowers, hummingbirds and bumblebees belong to completely separate biological families. They have distinct appearances and behaviors related to their roles as nectar-feeding birds versus pollen-spreading insects. Any reference to a “bumblebee hummingbird” is fictional and does not describe any living creature known to science.
References
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Hummingbirds
- Audubon – Guide to North American Hummingbirds
- US Forest Service – Hummingbirds and Bumble Bees Pollinators
- American Museum of Natural History – Bumble Bees
- University of Michigan – Native Bee Guide
- Bumblebee Conservation Trust – Species
