# Bee Hummingbird (*Mellisuga helenae*) The Bee Hummingbird is the tiniest bird in the world! It's like a colorful fairy that flits from flower to flower, sipping sweet nectar with its long, delicate beak. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Helena Hummingbird, Zunzuncito ![Bee Hummingbird](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424514/objects/5897.jpg) ## Appearance The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird, measuring under 6 cm. Males boast brilliant iridescent red-orange heads and throats with a green back, while females are duller green with white undersides. Its tiny size and shimmering plumage make it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Apodiformes - **Family:** Trochilidae - **Genus:** Mellisuga ## Interesting facts - An adult Bee Hummingbird weighs less than a penny coin! - Their heart beats up to 1,260 times a minute, even when resting! - Their nest is smaller than a thimble and often decorated with lichen! - They visit up to 1,500 flowers a day to drink sugary nectar! ## Special abilities - **Hover Power:** Bee Hummingbird can hover perfectly still mid-air because of their unique wing structure that allows 360-degree rotation. - **Super Speeder:** Bee Hummingbird has the fastest wingbeat of any bird, up to 200 beats per second, which helps them fly incredibly fast. - **Backward Flight:** Bee Hummingbird can fly backwards or even upside down because of their unique jointed wings that provide ultimate maneuverability. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-6 cm - **Wingspan:** 10-11 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.0026 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-8 years - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2 - **Incubation:** 14-23 days ## Diet & Feeding They sip sweet flower nectar for energy and catch tiny insects for protein. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, small insects, tiny spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Jigüe flower (*Sideroxylon salicifolium*) — Helps this Cuban tree reproduce by spreading pollen. - **Eats:** [Spinybacked Orbweaver](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spinybacked-orbweaver) (*Gasteracantha cancriformis*) — Hunts tiny spiders for essential protein and nutrients. - **Eaten by:** Cuban Racer (*Alsophis cantherigerus*) — Small birds, including hummingbirds, can be prey for this snake. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Observe from a distance to not disturb these tiny creatures in their natural habitat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bee Hummingbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bee Hummingbird? 5-6 cm ### What is Bee Hummingbird's wingspan? 10-11 cm ### How much does Bee Hummingbird weigh? 0.002-0.0026 kg ### How long does Bee Hummingbird live? 6-8 years ### How fast can Bee Hummingbird move? 48 km/h ### What does Bee Hummingbird eat? They sip sweet flower nectar for energy and catch tiny insects for protein. ### Where is Bee Hummingbird usually found? Coastal areas ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Bee Hummingbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bee-hummingbird)