The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world. Here are some key facts about this tiny and remarkable creature:
Size
The Bee Hummingbird is truly tiny. It measures just 2 inches long from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail. Its body (without the beak and tail) is only around 1.6 inches long. This makes it smaller than most insects. In fact, it is the smallest living bird in the world.
To put the Bee Hummingbird’s miniscule size into perspective:
- It weighs less than 0.07 ounces, which is approximately the weight of a penny.
- Its eggs are only about the size of a coffee bean.
- Its nest is around half the size of a walnut shell.
The Bee Hummingbird is so small that people often mistake it for a large insect at first glance. Its tiny size allows it to hover in one place and maneuver nimbly from flower to flower in search of nectar.
Appearance
In addition to its diminutive size, the Bee Hummingbird has striking and colorful plumage:
- The male has iridescent green feathers on its head, back, and throat. When the light catches these feathers, they shine brightly.
- The male also has a vibrant crimson red patch below its beak and another red patch on its tail feathers.
- The female is similar to the male but lacks the colorful throat patch. She is more green overall with whitish underparts.
- Both the male and female have a thin, long black beak well-adapted for accessing nectar from flowers.
This beautiful plumage, along with its extremely small size, makes the Bee Hummingbird one of the most distinctive and recognizable bird species in the world. When it hovers near a flower, its bright colors flash in the sunlight.
Habitat
The Bee Hummingbird is found exclusively on the island of Cuba. Its natural habitat includes:
- Forest edges
- Mangroves
- Areas with flowering plants and shrubs
This tiny bird thrives in the warm, tropical climate of Cuba. It is found across the entire island nation. Some key areas to spot the Bee Hummingbird include the Zapata Swamp and the Cienaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve, both of which provide an ideal mix of flowers, shrubs, and trees for foraging and nesting.
Diet
Like all hummingbirds, the Bee Hummingbird has a high metabolism. It gets most of its energy and nutrition from drinking nectar from flowers using its specialized long tongue.
Some of the flowers it favors include:
- Hibiscus
- Bougainvillea
- Fuchsia
- Salvia
- Trumpet vine
- Wild tobacco
In addition to nectar, the Bee Hummingbird will occasionally eat small insects for essential amino acids and fat. But nectar makes up the vast majority of its diet. The bird favors flowers with higher sugar concentrations in the nectar.
Behavior and Characteristics
The Bee Hummingbird exhibits many fascinating behaviors and characteristics related to its tiny size:
- It has an extremely fast metabolism and must eat every 10-15 minutes to sustain itself.
- Its wings beat up to 80 times per second, which creates the distinctive hum that gives hummingbirds their name.
- It is a very aggressive defender of flower patches and feeding territories from intruders.
- Males perform elaborate courtship displays by climbing up to 130 feet in the air and then diving at high speeds to impress females.
- Like all hummingbirds, it can fly forwards, backwards, sideways, and hover in place.
- To conserve energy at night, it enters a hibernation-like torpor state where its metabolic rate slows.
The Bee Hummingbird has many adaptations that allow it to thrive as the smallest bird on Earth. From its rapid wingbeats to its territorial behavior to its hibernation-like torpor, this species exhibits some amazing characteristics given its incredibly tiny stature.
Reproduction
Here are some key facts about Bee Hummingbird reproduction and nesting:
- Breeding season is between March and June.
- The female builds a tiny cup-shaped nest out of cobwebs, lichen, and down feathers.
- The nest is only about 2 inches wide and half an inch deep.
- Two pea-sized eggs are laid per clutch.
- Only the female incubates the eggs for 2-3 weeks.
- Chicks hatch after an incubation of 14 to 23 days.
- Chicks fledge in about 3 weeks after hatching.
- The female alone cares for the chicks.
Nesting and rearing chicks is an impressive feat given the Bee Hummingbird’s tiny body size. The entire process from egg to fledgling takes less than two months. The female dedicates immense energy and resources to successfully raising chicks despite her diminutive stature.
Threats and Conservation
Due to its small habitat limited only to Cuba, the Bee Hummingbird is considered a vulnerable species. Some threats include:
- Habitat loss from development and agriculture
- Use of pesticides which reduce its insect food sources
- Competition for food from invasive bird and bat species
- Climate change impacts on flowering plants and nectar availability
- Extreme weather events like hurricanes
Protecting key habitats like the Zapata Swamp is crucial for conservation. Maintaining flowering meadows and vegetation is also important. Adding more nature reserves and limiting use of pesticides will help preserve Bee Hummingbird populations into the future.
Some conservation measures are already underway. The Cuban government designated the Bee Hummingbird as a Natural National Monument in 1999. International conservation groups are working to protect critical habitat as well.
Fun Facts
Here are a few more fun and fascinating facts about the teeny Bee Hummingbird:
- Ornithologists believe its small size evolved so it could access nectar from small tropical flowers that bigger hummingbirds cannot access.
- It produces a chipping sound, similar to that of crickets or small insects, to communicate.
- During courtship displays, males climb 130 feet in the air before diving at speeds of around 27 miles per hour.
- Its wingsbeat up to 80 times per second and its heart can beat up to 1200 beats per minute.
- It is Cuba’s national bird symbol and features on some of the country’s stamps and coins.
From its national symbol status to its incredible diving displays, the world’s smallest bird definitely lives up to its name. The Bee Hummingbird is a unique and captivating creature.
Conclusion
The Bee Hummingbird’s miniscule size makes it a true natural wonder. As the world’s smallest bird, it has adapted in amazing ways to thrive in its island home of Cuba. From rapid wingbeats to entering torpor states, this tiny bird has many remarkable traits.
While vulnerable due to its limited habitat, conservation efforts are underway to protect the Bee Hummingbird. This includes habitat protection, reducing pesticide use, and monitoring nests. With proper care, the Bee Hummingbird will hopefully continue charming bird enthusiasts with its diminutive size and energetic behavior for years to come.
