Home › Aves › Trochilidae › Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
SPECIES PROFILE
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
Mellisuga
IUCN STATUS
Near Threatened
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Endemic to Cuba and Isla de la Juventud; one of the most restricted ranges of any Caribbean bird.
DIET
Nectarivore
HABITAT
Tropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, gardens, and scrubland of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud.
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Apodiformes
FAMILY
Trochilidae
GENUS
Mellisuga
📋 Description
SIZE
World's smallest bird; males 5.7 cm, females 6.1 cm; weighs 1.6–2 g — lighter than a penny.
COLORATION
Males: iridescent fiery red to rose-pink head and throat; green upper parts; white-grey underparts; females: green above, white below.
ADAPTATIONS
Wings beat 80 times per second (up to 200 during display); heart rate 1,260 beats/minute; can lower metabolism into torpor at night.
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Tropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, gardens, and scrubland of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud.
DIET
Nectarivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Endemic to Cuba and Isla de la Juventud; one of the most restricted ranges of any Caribbean bird.
REPRODUCTION
Female alone builds a tiny thimble-sized nest of plant fibres and spider silk on a thin branch; 2 pea-sized eggs; incubation 14–16 days.
DIET DETAILS
Nectar from flowers, especially Salvia, Hibiscus, and flowering trees; also tiny insects and spiders for protein.
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, invasive species competing for nest sites, and climate change threatening flowering plant phenology.
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest living bird in the world — it weighs less than a sugar cube.
2
Despite being the world's smallest bird, a Bee Hummingbird visits up to 1,500 flowers per day.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve near Playa Larga, Cuba — the most reliable site for Bee Hummingbird encounters.
La Güira National Park in Pinar del Río, Cuba — forest edges with flowering understorey attract resident Bee Hummingbirds.
Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos, Cuba — managed flowering gardens attract Bee Hummingbirds reliably, especially in morning hours.
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Visit gardens with flowering Salvia and Hibiscus before 9 AM; the bird is tiny — scan slowly and look for hovering motion.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Year-round; breeding season March–June when males display and females are on nests; most active in morning hours.
