Bee hummingbird

The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird is a species of hummingbird, native to the island of Cuba in the Caribbean. It is the smallest known bird. The bee hummingbird feeds on nectar of flowers and bugs found in Cuba.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Caribbean

Typical Environment

Occurs primarily on the main island of Cuba and the nearby Isla de la Juventud. It favors forest edges, secondary growth, coastal scrub, and mogote (karst) habitats with abundant flowering plants. The species also uses gardens, plantations, and hedgerows when nectar sources are available. Nesting typically happens in sheltered shrubs or low branches near reliable nectar plants.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 700 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size5–6 cm

Wing Span6–7 cm

Male Weight0.0019 kg

Female Weight0.0026 kg

Life Expectancy7 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The bee hummingbird is the smallest living bird, native only to Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud. It beats its wings at extraordinary speeds and has a humming, insect-like flight. By visiting hundreds of flowers daily, it is an important pollinator in its habitats. Females build thimble-sized nests bound with spider silk.

Gallery

Bee hummingbird feeding on Hamelia patens

Side view of the nest

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

hovering with very rapid wingbeats; swift, darting movements

Social Behavior

Males defend rich nectar patches aggressively during the breeding season and do not assist with nesting. Females build a tiny cup nest from plant down and spider silk and rear the young alone, typically two eggs. Courtship involves aerial displays and rapid, buzzing flights.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched tsip or tsee notes, often delivered while foraging. The whirring hum of the wings is conspicuous and insect-like, especially during display flights.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Beijing babbler

The Beijing babbler, also known as the white-browed Chinese warbler, Chinese hill warbler, or Chinese bush-dweller, is a species of bird in the genus Rhopophilus. It is now thought to be a close relative of the parrotbills and is placed in the family Paradoxornithidae; previously, it was placed in the families Cisticolidae, Timaliidae or Sylviidae. It is found in northern China and North Korea, and formerly occurred in South Korea. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1868.

Belcher's gull

Belcher's gull, also known as the band-tailed gull, is a bird in the family Laridae found along the Pacific coast of South America. It formerly included the very similar Olrog's gull as a subspecies, but that bird occurs on the Atlantic coast of South America and is now accepted as Larus atlanticus. Belcher's gull is a medium-sized gull with a blackish mantle, white head and underparts, a black band on the otherwise white tail, and a yellow bill with a red and black tip. Non-breeding adults have a brownish-black head and a white eye-ring. The name of this bird commemorates the British explorer Sir Edward Belcher, who performed survey work on the Pacific coast of South America.

Bell miner

The bell miner, commonly known as the bellbird, is a colonial honeyeater, endemic to southeastern Australia. The common name refers to their bell-like call. 'Miner' is an old alternative spelling of 'myna', and is shared with other members of the genus Manorina. The birds feed almost exclusively on the dome-like coverings, referred to as 'bell lerps', of certain psyllid bugs that feed on eucalyptus sap from the leaves. The psyllids make these bell lerps from their own honeydew secretions in order to protect themselves from predators and the environment.