Bird Album
Bee Hummingbird
Mellisuga helenae (Lembeye, 1850)
6.1 cmLength2.2 gWeight
The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is a species of hummingbird, native to the island of Cuba in the Caribbean.
Busiest months: March · Most records: Cuba
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: March · Most records: Cuba
Bee Hummingbird has been recorded at 11 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.
Records by month Northern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Casa Ana BirdingCuba630 records
- Refugio de Fauna BermejaCuba612 records
- Playa LargaCuba159 records
More places
- PN Ciénaga de Zapata – Santo TomasCuba123 records
- Soplillar – Sabanas de PalpiteCuba121 records
- PN Cienaga de Zapata – Las SalinasCuba32 records
- Zapata – La TurbaCuba30 records
- Criadero de CocodrilosCuba6 records
- Cueva de los PortalesCuba5 records
- Hacienda CortinaCuba2 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) 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 flower nectar and insects.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Bee Hummingbird?
The Bee Hummingbird is about 6.1 cm long and weighs around 2.2 g.
Where does the Bee Hummingbird live?
Its breeding range: North America: Cuba. It is most often recorded in Cuba.
When is the best time to see the Bee Hummingbird?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in March (Northern Hemisphere).
Is the Bee Hummingbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Bee Hummingbird as Near Threatened.
What does the Bee Hummingbird eat?
Main food: Nectar.
What family is the Bee Hummingbird in?
It belongs to the family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae), order Apodiformes.
At a glance
- Length
- 6.1 cm
- Weight
- 2.2 g
- Habitat
- Forest
- Diet
- Nectar
- Lifestyle
- Feeds in the air
- Migration
- Resident (barely migrates)
- Conservation
- Near Threatened
More measurements
- Wing
- 28 mm
- Tail
- 17 mm
- Bill
- 12 mm
- Tarsus
- 3 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
North America: Cuba
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Hummingbirds Trochilidae
- Genus
- Mellisuga
Other birds in the genus Mellisuga
Vervain HummingbirdMellisuga minima
Crimson TopazTopaza pella
Fiery TopazTopaza pyra
White-necked JacobinFlorisuga mellivora
Black JacobinFlorisuga fusca
White-tipped SicklebillEutoxeres aquila
Buff-tailed SicklebillEutoxeres condamini
Saw-billed HermitRamphodon naevius
Hook-billed HermitGlaucis dohrnii
Bronzy HermitGlaucis aeneus
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗
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