Skip to main content

Bee Hummingbird / Zunzuncito

Mellisuga helenae

Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

22.5009, -81.6425

Field Notes

Description:

This is an endemic species from Cuba and it is consider the smalest bird in the world, the individual in the picture is a female, It weight 1.6–2 g (0.056–0.071 oz) and a length of 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
Jonathan Sequeira
This bird has also the smallest number of feathers: about 1,000 feathers (in other bird species, there are up to 25,000 feathers).
KarenL
Fun fact! The bee hummingbird measures less than 2.5 inches long and weighs under 0.1 ounce! Also known as the Helenas hummingbird, it is so tiny it often gets caught in spiders' webs. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152639004690603&set=a.10152575329380603.958289.10150120463815603&type=1 https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/311064171603181568
Jonathan Sequeira
Nice... a Coquette, next trip to Cuba I will search for the male which is very colorful
Debbie Stewart
Beautiful little hummingbird, they are fascinating to watch when they are so tiny...I managed to capture a female tufted coquette in Trinidad that was just half a cm bigger than this beauty and you really can mistake them for large bees! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/14936633
Jonathan Sequeira
Thanks for the comments, I fount it in my 4 th trip to Cuba.... THE SMALEST BIRD IN THE WORLD
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 17, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies