The bee hummingbird is the world’s smallest hummingbird, measuring just 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length, weighing as little as 1.6 grams (0.06 ounces), with wingspans as short as 3.25 centimeters (1.28 inches) in particularly small individuals. The gorgeted woodstar is the smallest of the woodstars at just 5.8 centimeters (2.3 inches), while the calliope hummingbird, at 7 centimeters (2.8 inches), is the smallest species found in the United States and Canada.
This article explores the smallest hummingbirds known to science, focusing on the shortest, lightest, and most compact individuals reliably recorded. These tiny nectar eaters are found throughout the Americas, from Caribbean islands and Andean forests to Central American roadsides and North American alpine meadows.
Despite their size, they display remarkable variation in plumage, behavior, and ecological role, from elaborate courtship crests to continent-spanning migrations. In the following entries, we examine how these hummingbirds thrive at the lower limits of avian size, and why their survival depends on habitats as delicate as they are.
Bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
- Body length: As small as 5 cm (2 in).
- Weight: As little as 1.6 g (0.06 oz).
- Wingspan: As short as 3.25 cm (1.28 in).
- Where found: Cuba – forests, woodlands, and gardens.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened.
The bee hummingbird is the smallest species of hummingbird, measuring as little as 5 centimeters (2 inches) in length and weighing just 1.6 grams (0.06 ounces) – lighter than a standard U.S. penny. Some individuals have wingspans as short as 3.25 centimeters (1.28 inches). It also holds the distinction of being the smallest bird known to science.
Unlike many slender hummingbirds, it has a rounded, almost bumblebee-like shape, a resemblance reinforced by the humming buzz of its wings in flight. Its rapid wingbeat (up to 200 times per second) enables it to hover in front of small, tubular flowers, which it probes using a needle-like bill and extendable tongue. In a single day, this tiny bird may visit up to 1,500 flowers, playing a vital role in pollination.
Endemic to Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud, the bee hummingbird was formerly widespread but is now restricted to fragmented populations in areas such as the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Sierra del Rosario, Zapata Swamp, and parts of eastern Cuba. It depends heavily on mature forest and woodland edges rich in lianas, epiphytes, and nectar-producing shrubs, though it occasionally ventures into swampland and cultivated gardens.
Forest clearance for agriculture, especially cacao, coffee, and tobacco, has drastically reduced suitable habitat. With only 15-20% of Cuba’s natural vegetation remaining, habitat degradation remains the principal threat. Though the species is found in several protected areas and listed under CITES Appendix II, continued population monitoring, habitat restoration, and awareness campaigns are critical to its long-term survival.
Gorgeted woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor)
- Body length: As small as 5.8 cm (2.3 in).
- Where found: Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela – forest edges, cloud forests, and second growth.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The gorgeted woodstar is the smallest member of the woodstar group – a group of tiny hummingbirds known for their bumblebee-like flight and exceptionally small size. Measuring just 5.8 centimeters (2.3 inches) in length, it has a distinctive compact build and hovering style.
Males are easily recognized by their deep emerald-green plumage with a sparkling wine-colored throat and contrasting white patches near the rump. Females are more subdued, showing a rufous rump, short tail, and a buffy-tinged throat. Both sexes have slightly decurved black bills, and their hovering flight is slow and insect-like, allowing them to slip unnoticed into the feeding territories of larger hummingbirds.
The species occurs in the Andean regions of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forests, forest edges, coffee plantations, and semi-open montane landscapes. It is typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters (4,000-10,000 feet), and is thought to undergo seasonal shifts in altitude. Gorgeted woodstars feed mainly on nectar, especially from flowering Inga trees, foraging from the mid-canopy to the treetops. They also hunt tiny insects by sallying from perches.
Although often described as rare or local, their minute size and quiet behavior may cause them to be overlooked more often than they are genuinely scarce. While the overall population trend is believed to be slowly declining, the species is currently not considered threatened.
Bumblebee hummingbird (Selasphorus heloisa)
- Body length: As small as 5.9 cm (2.3 in).
- Weight: As little as 2 g (0.07 oz).
- Wingspan: As short as 5 cm (2.0 in).
- Where found: Mountains of Mexico – pine-oak forest, cloudforest, and humid scrub.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The bumblebee hummingbird is a miniature hummingbird, measuring just 5.9 centimeters (2.3 inches) in length, weighing as little as 2 grams (0.07 ounces), and with a wingspan as short as 5 centimeters (2.0 inches). Its name reflects both its tiny size and the hovering, horizontal feeding posture that recalls a bee in flight.
Males of the nominate subspecies display a vivid magenta to bluish-purple gorget, bronze-green upperparts, and a short tail with white corners and cinnamon bases. Females are less colorful, with a spotted white throat and more muted tail markings. In both sexes, a small white spot behind the eye and a short, straight black bill aid identification. Their slow, hovering style and tail-cocked feeding behavior help them quietly forage, even in areas dominated by larger hummingbirds.
Endemic to Mexico, the bumblebee hummingbird is found in both the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental, inhabiting humid montane ecosystems between 1,500 and 3,000 meters (5,000-10,000 feet). It occupies pine-oak and evergreen forests, cloudforest edges, and shrubby clearings rich in nectar sources. The species feeds at a wide range of flowering plants and supplements its diet with small arthropods.
Though usually considered sedentary, seasonal shifts between forest types have been reported. While its minute size often allows it to slip past territorial competitors, it remains inconspicuous and easily overlooked. The population is thought to be stable and widespread, and no major threats have been identified.
Little woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus)
- Body length: As small as 6 cm (2.4 in).
- Weight: As little as 2.2 g (0.08 oz).
- Where found: Andes and coastal regions of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru – humid and semi-humid forest.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened.
The little woodstar is a tiny hummingbird with a delicate appearance, measuring just 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) in length and weighing about 2.2 grams (0.08 ounces). Males have a glittering magenta throat set against dark bronzy-green plumage and are marked with pale buff across the chest and a distinctive stripe behind the eye. Females are pale cinnamon below with tawny flanks and a soft whitish throat, and both sexes show white spots on the sides of the rump.
Like other woodstars, they have a slow, bumblebee-like flight and lack the agility to defend territories, instead slipping undetected into feeding areas dominated by larger hummingbirds.
This species inhabits both slopes of the Andes and parts of the Ecuadorian lowlands, ranging from sea level to over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), though it is most often found in transitional forest zones between dry and wet habitats. While its movements are not well studied, seasonal elevational shifts are likely. The little woodstar feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering shrubs and trees, foraging at low to mid-levels in the forest.
The little woodstar faces increasing pressure from habitat degradation across its fragmented range, driven by deforestation, agriculture, mining, and expanding human settlements. Although it occurs in several protected areas, the species depends on continued forest preservation and habitat restoration efforts to maintain stable populations.
Vervain hummingbird (Mellisuga minima)
- Body length: Around 6 cm (2.4 in).
- Weight: As little as 2 g (0.07 oz).
- Where found: Jamaica and Hispaniola – dry forest, scrub, gardens, and urban areas.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The vervain hummingbird is a small Caribbean species measuring about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) in length and weighing as little as 2 grams (0.07 ounces). Though not the tiniest in the family, it is among the smallest birds in the region.
It has a short, straight black bill and lacks the bright iridescence common to many hummingbirds – males in particular are distinctive for having no iridescent plumage at all. Instead, they display dull metallic green backs and pale gray throats lightly spotted with gray, while females are darker green above with more contrast on the underparts. When feeding, both sexes often cock their tails upward and hover close to small flowers or patches of flying insects.
Endemic to the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), the vervain hummingbird occupies nearly every habitat type except dense interior montane forest. It thrives in gallery forests, dry scrub, gardens, and even urban parks, and occurs from sea level up to 1,600 meters (5,300 feet). The species is non-migratory but may shift elevation in search of food. It feeds on nectar from a wide range of flowering plants, especially small blooms, and supplements its diet by catching insects mid-air.
Despite being one of the least colorful hummingbirds, it is often heard before seen, thanks to its high-pitched squeaky calls. Its population is considered stable, and no major threats have been identified.
Esmeraldas woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi)
- Body length: Around 6 cm (2.4 in).
- Where found: Pacific lowlands of western Ecuador – semi-deciduous and evergreen forest.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable.
The Esmeraldas woodstar is a rare and exceptionally small hummingbird, measuring only about 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) in length. Males are distinguished by their vivid purple throat, green crown and chest band, and a white underside with a forked tail. Females are more muted, with yellowish-brown underparts, green chest patches, a white stripe behind the eye, and cinnamon-tipped tail feathers.
As with other woodstars, their small size and quiet, bumblebee-like flight often allow them to go unnoticed, even in flowering trees. For many years, females were poorly understood due to the similarity with young males and other small hummingbird species, but recent studies have clarified their appearance and ecology.
Endemic to the Pacific coast of Ecuador, the Esmeraldas woodstar inhabits a fragmented strip of semi-deciduous to evergreen forest from sea level up to 750 meters (2,460 feet). It feeds primarily on nectar from native flowering plants and is most often observed during the rainy season between October and March.
Much of its range has been lost to logging, cattle grazing, and agriculture, and even protected areas like Machalilla National Park face illegal deforestation and habitat degradation. Though the population is slightly larger than once feared, it remains in decline. Conservation initiatives led by local communities, including the creation of reserves like Ayampe, are critical for protecting both breeding sites and nectar sources. Without continued protection and restoration, the Esmeraldas woodstar’s narrow range and sensitivity to habitat loss place it at continued risk.
Rufous-crested coquette (Lophornis delattrei)
- Body length: As small as 6.4 cm (2.5 in).
- Weight: Around 2.8 g (0.1 oz).
- Wingspan: As short as 4 cm (1.6 in).
- Where found: Tropical montane forests from Costa Rica to Bolivia – forest edges, clearings, and roadsides.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The rufous-crested coquette is a small hummingbird, measuring just 6.4 centimeters (2.5 inches) in length and with a wingspan of only 4 centimeters (1.6 inches). Males are especially striking, bearing one of the most elaborate crests in the bird world – a flamboyant spray of orange feathers tipped in black that rises sharply from the crown.
Females lack the crest but share the rufous-tinged forehead and compact form. Both sexes show a bright white band across the rump and green upperparts, and their short tails are rounded or forked depending on sex. In flight, this species exhibits a characteristic vertical tail-pumping motion that gives it an insect-like appearance, and it is often mistaken for a sphinx moth.
Found across the humid slopes of Central and South America from Costa Rica to Bolivia, the rufous-crested coquette inhabits montane forest edges, clearings, and flowering roadsides between 500 and 1,900 meters (1,640-6,300 feet) elevation. It feeds on nectar from a wide variety of plants and also catches small insects on the wing. Due to its tiny size and low competitive ability, it often forages over large distances in search of food, typically avoiding aggressive larger hummingbirds.
Though considered uncommon throughout its wide range, the species shows signs of stability and faces fewer immediate threats than many other rare forest-dependent hummingbirds. It tolerates moderate habitat disturbance and is most often seen in semi-open areas rather than dense interior forest.
Calliope hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
- Body length: As small as 7 cm (2.8 in).
- Weight: As little as 2 g (0.07 oz).
- Wingspan: As short as 10.5 cm (4.1 in).
- Where found: Western North America – montane forests and meadows; winters in Mexico.
- Conservation status: Least Concern.
The calliope hummingbird is the smallest hummingbird native to the United States and Canada, measuring just 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) in length and weighing as little as 2 grams (0.07 ounces). Despite its size, it undertakes an astonishing 9,000-kilometer (5,600-mile) round-trip migration each year between its breeding and wintering grounds, making it the smallest known long-distance migrant among birds.
Males are compact and glossy green above with white underparts and a striking magenta-streaked gorget that can flare outward during courtship displays. Females and juveniles are more subdued, with a pinkish wash on the flanks and a finely spotted throat. Its short tail and lack of rufous coloration help distinguish it from similar species.
Breeding in mountain meadows and shrubby openings from southern British Columbia to California and Colorado, the calliope hummingbird prefers elevations between 1,200 and 3,400 meters (4,000-11,100 feet) but can nest as low as 180 meters (590 feet) in some parts of its range. It winters primarily in pine-oak and thorn forests of southwestern Mexico after passing through desert scrub, chaparral, and lowland brush during migration. It feeds on nectar from small tubular flowers, sap from sapsucker wells, and aerial insects.
Though often subordinate to larger hummingbirds at feeders in winter, males aggressively defend breeding territories, even confronting much larger birds such as robins and small hawks. While the population is currently stable and widespread, its restricted wintering range places it on conservation watchlists for future monitoring.
Conserving the smallest of flyers
From the bee hummingbird of Cuba to the dazzling coquettes of South America, the smallest hummingbirds showcase an extraordinary balance of delicacy and resilience. Despite their size, these birds are agile pollinators, long-distance migrants, and masters of survival in fragmented and competitive habitats. Their diversity of colors, displays, and feeding strategies reveal how evolution has sculpted miniature marvels across the Americas.
Yet their small size often makes them easy to overlook, both in the wild and in conservation planning. Protecting these small birds means protecting the flowers they depend on, the forests they inhabit, and the quiet ecological roles they fulfill. In studying these tiny species, we are reminded that size is no measure of significance in the natural world.