The bee hummingbird is a tiny, jewel-like hummingbird found only in Cuba. It holds the record as the world’s smallest bird and is a highlight for birdwatchers visiting the island.
Interesting facts
- Its eggs are about the size of a coffee bean.
- Its nest is only about 2.5 cm across, made from cobwebs, lichen and bark.
- Its wings beat about 80 times a second in normal flight.
- Breeding males have a shimmering pink-red head and throat.
- It feeds from hundreds of flowers a day and is an important pollinator.
- It lives only in Cuba.
Behaviour
Bee hummingbirds are active by day, hovering at flowers to feed. Males perform display flights and sing high-pitched songs.
Breeding and young
Females build tiny cup nests and lay two eggs, raising the chicks alone.
Threats and conservation
Loss of forest and flowering plants to farming and development.
Where to see it
- Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
- Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba
- Soroa and the Sierra del Rosario, Cuba
- Gardens with flowering plants near forests in western Cuba
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
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