Record #00466Nature archive
The bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), endemic to Cuba, is the smallest living bird species. Individuals may weigh as little as about 1.6 g, with adult males measuring roughly 5–6 cm.
Current Record
about1.6g
Current record value
The bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is endemic to Cuba; males are generally smaller than females. Like other hummingbirds, it can hover while feeding at flowers.
Despite its tiny body, it is capable of sustained hovering flight and feeds on nectar and small insects.
BirdLife reports habitat loss and degradation as threats and classifies the species as Near Threatened.
The record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Basis: direct confirmation by an authority
BirdLife identifies the bee hummingbird as the world's smallest bird and cites 1.6 g, while Smithsonian reports approximately 1.95 g. Neither should be presented as a single universal mean adult weight.
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
The record value on this page is organized from the public sources above. Measurement methods may differ; JiLuDB follows the unified method described for each entry.
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