The bee hummingbird, or zunzuncito as it is known in Cuba where it is endemic, is the smallest bird in the world. Measuring just 5-6 centimeters (2-2.5 inches) long, this tiny bird weighs only 1.6-2 grams (0.05-0.07 ounces) fully grown. That’s lighter than a penny! Their diminutive size astonishes most people when they first learn about these tiny creatures. But there is much more to the bee hummingbird than just its petite stature. Keep reading to learn all about the size and weight of the bee hummingbird.
Quick Facts on Bee Hummingbird Size
Here are some key facts on the remarkably small size of the bee hummingbird:
– Length is 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in) from bill tip to tail tip, making it smaller than most insects.
– Wingspan is 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in). Their wings beat up to 80 times per second.
– Average adult weight is 1.6-2 grams (0.05-0.07 oz). That’s lighter than a penny.
– Smallest birds in the world by length, wingspan, and weight.
– Body is about the size of a big bee, hence their name.
– Legs are thinner than a toothpick.
So in summary, the bee hummingbird lives up to its reputation as the smallest bird species on earth. Every part of its body, from bill to tail, is tiny compared to other birds. But there’s much more to learn about the specifics of their miniature size.
Body Dimensions
Let’s take a closer look at the bee hummingbird’s tiny body piece by piece:
Total Length
Adult bee hummingbirds range from 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in) in total length when measured from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail. The average length is about 5.5 cm (2.2 in).
Females are generally slightly larger than males. A female bee hummingbird could reach 6 cm, while a male might max out around 5 cm in total length. But that 1 centimeter size difference between genders is quite small.
Wingspan
Like their minuscule bodies, the wings of the bee hummingbird are also teensy-weensy. Their wingspan ranges from 5-6 cm (2-2.5 in).
The wings are shaped like a symmetrical triangle. In proportion to their body, the wings are actually quite long. This allows the bee hummingbird to flap their wings up to 80 times per second, enabling them to precisely hover and maneuver while feeding on flower nectar.
Bill
The bill of the bee hummingbird is specially adapted for reaching into flowers and drinking nectar. It measures around 1 cm (0.4 in) long and is slender and slightly decurved. This minute bill tweezers out droplets and licks them up with an extensile forked tongue.
Tail
The tail of the bee hummingbird is short and stubby, typically 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in) long. So about half the length of the bird’s tiny body. The tail is forked into two prongs made up of soft feathers. Males have slightly longer, more forked tails than females.
Legs and Feet
As you might guess, this bird’s legs and feet are also teensy-weensy! Their legs are about 1 cm (0.4 in) long and thinner than toothpicks.
Their feet are zygodactyl, meaning two toes point forward and two toes point back. This allows them to expertly grasp onto flowers and branches.
So every external part of the bee hummingbird’s body is petit proportioned to match their tiny stature. Next let’s look inside at their skeleton and organs.
Internal Anatomy
Beyond the bird’s external features, the bee hummingbird’s internal anatomy is also miniaturized:
Skeleton
The bee hummingbird has an extremely delicate skeleton made of lightweight hollow bones. But their miniature bones retain enough strength to withstand the strain of fast flapping wings.
Heart
Their tiny heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute, one of the fastest of any animal. This rapid rhythm circulates blood and oxygen efficiently through their petite body.
Lungs
The lungs are about the size of a coffee bean. But they efficiently exchange just enough gases to power their high metabolism.
Stomach and Liver
The stomach and liver are proportionately tinier than a walnut. Digestion happens swiftly to provide energy for their busy hovering.
Brain
Their miniaturized brain is about the size of a single coffee bean. But it coordinates complex neurological functions like flight and sight.
So the bee hummingbird’s entire body from tip to tip is specially designed by nature to be super-petite. Next let’s look at their diminutive total mass.
Weight
The bee hummingbird weighs only about 1.6-2 grams on average when fully grown. That’s approximately:
– 0.05-0.07 ounces
– 1/15th of an ounce
– Less than one tenth of an ounce
To put their tiny weight into perspective, here are some size comparisons:
– Weighs less than a U.S. penny (2.5 grams)
– Weighs as much as one paperclip
– Weighs half as much as a U.S. dime (2.268g)
– Weighs same as two small paperclips
– Weighs one gram less than three U.S pennies (4.5g)
That’s lighter than any currency in your pocket! Here’s a table summarizing some everyday objects that weigh about the same as a bee hummingbird:
Object | Weight |
---|---|
1 medium paperclip | 1 gram |
2 small paperclips | 1.5 grams |
1 U.S. dime | 2.268 grams |
3 U.S. pennies | 2.5 grams |
So an adult bee hummingbird in your hand would feel about as hefty as holding nothing more than a couple tiny metal office supplies. That’s an extraordinarily light little bird!
Their low weight allows them to propel those fasting flapping wings while expending minimal energy. It also allows them to lightly perch on the most fragile surfaces of flowers and stems when feeding. Next let’s compare the bee hummingbird’s weight versus wingspan and body length.
Weight Compared to Length and Wingspan
The bee hummingbird’s wingspan and body length are 5-6 cm (2-2.5 inches) on average. With a weight of only 1.6-2 grams, some simple calculations show:
– They weigh only about 1/2 a gram per centimeter of length/wingspan.
– Or in other words, 0.5 grams of weight per inch of their small size.
– Each gram of their weight accounts for about 3 cm (over 1 inch) of their tiny length and wingspan.
So the bee hummingbird is extraordinarily lightweight relative to its wingspan and body length measurements.
For example, an ostrich weighs about 2 grams per centimeter of height. But the bee hummingbird weighs only 1/4 of a gram per centimeter in comparison.
A human adult is estimated to weigh around 6.3 grams per centimeter of height. So a much heftier ratio than the zunzuncito!
This ultralight build allows the diminutive bee hummingbird to fly and maneuver with very little effort. Their lightweight stature perfectly matches their tiny measurements.
Changes in Size and Weight by Age
Baby bee hummingbirds hatch from tiny eggs about the size of a coffee bean. At this juvenile stage, their weight and length is about half that of adults:
– Hatchling length: 2.5-3 cm
– Hatchling weight: 0.6 grams
Within a few weeks after hatching, young bee hummingbirds rapidly grow to reach adult size and weight. Some key milestones:
– 2 weeks old: 3-4 cm long, 1 gram
– 1 month old: 4-5 cm long, 1.2 grams
– 2 months old: Reach full adult dimensions
So most of their growing happens within the first two months of life. Their rapid development allows young birds to feed independently and migrate relatively quickly after hatching.
Females tend to gain size more slowly than males. But both sexes reach their full miniaturized proportions within a couple months after hatching.
Interestingly, elderly bee hummingbirds do not decrease in size or weight as drastically as other birds. The zunzuncito maintains its tiny stature well throughout adulthood.
How Does Bee Hummingbird Size Compare to Other Species?
The bee hummingbird is clearly the smallest bird species on earth. But how exactly does it size up against other creatures big and small?
Vs. Insects
Remarkably, some tropical insects are nearly the same size as the tiny bee hummingbird:
– Giant tropical damselflies can reach 5 cm long with similar wingspans.
– Titan beetles and giant cicadas also match the bird’s 5-6 cm length.
– But even large insects outweigh hummingbirds by a factor of 10-20x.
So while they are the same magnitude of size, the bee hummingbird is far lighter than its insect ecological counterparts. This allows it to fly circles around such diminutive bugs!
Vs. Other Tiny Birds
The bee hummingbird is the only bird that is smaller than a feather. But some related species come close:
– Calliope hummingbird: 7.5 cm long, 2.4 grams
– Elegant hummingbird: 9 cm long, 3.4 grams
– Cuban emerald hummingbird: 10 cm long, 3 grams
So while tiny, other hummingbirds are about 1.5-2x larger in length and weight compared to the bee. This makes the bee hummingbird stand alone as the world’s smallest.
Vs. Mammals and Reptiles
– Etruscan shrew: 4 inches long, weighs 2 grams
– Pygmy mouse: 4 inches long, 5 grams
– Bumblebee bat: 1.5 inches long, 2 grams
Some tiny mammals match the bee hummingbird in length or weight. But none have both equivalently petite size and weight. So the bird comes out as the tiniest warm-blooded vertebrate.
Vs. Other Familiar Items
To really get perspective, here are some visual comparisons against everyday objects:
– A bee hummingbird is half the length of an AAA battery.
– Its eggs are the size of coffee beans.
– Their tiny nests are the size of a walnut shell.
So diminutive they almost seem unreal! But the bee hummingbird’s proportions are perfectly sized for its specialized nectar-feeding lifestyle.
Why is the Bee Hummingbird so Small?
Evolution has miniaturized the vibrant bee hummingbird over millennia for some key reasons:
Feeding Efficiency
Small size and weight allows them to extract nectar quickly from flowers in mid-air or on delicate perches that would not support larger birds.
Agility
Their tiny body is extremely agile in flight, allowing them to dart swiftly between nectar sources.
Energy Conservation
A smaller bird uses less energy, requiring less calorie-rich nectar to survive. So their size helps them thrive in the tropical climate.
Heat Regulation
More surface area relative to their volume helps tiny hummingbirds dissipate excess heat easily. Larger birds could overheat.
Specialist Niche
Extreme miniaturization allows them to occupy the niche of smallest avian pollinator.
So the bee hummingbird’s remarkably petite proportions suit its specialist lifestyle perfectly. Just a stunning example of nature’s ingenuity!
Conclusion
In summary, the bee hummingbird truly lives up to its reputation as the world’s smallest bird:
– Average length is just 5.5 cm (~2 inches) from bill to tail tip
– Wingspan ranges from 5 to 6 cm (~2 inches)
– Weighs only ~2 grams or 1/10th of an ounce when fully grown
– Half the size of the second-smallest bird species
From delicate legs to rapid heartbeat, every part of the bee hummingbird’s anatomy is miniaturized to work in concert as nature’s tiniest warm-blooded flier. Their perfectly petite size allows them to energetically feed, reproduce, and thrive. The next time you see a bee buzzing by, pause to appreciate that the bee hummingbird is flying circles around it at an even more incredible tiny scale!