Cuba's Bee Hummingbird (The World's Smallest Bird)

The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito, or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is a species of hummingbird that is the world's smallest bird and the smallest known dinosaur. Bee hummingbirds are native to Cuba and are endemic to all parts of the main island as well as many of the islets and islands that make up the Cuban archipelago.

They are known as "bee" hummingbirds as they are scarcely bigger than a bumblebee. Females weigh 2.6 g (0.092 oz) and are 6.1 cm (2.4 in) long, and are slightly larger than males, which have an average weight of 1.95 g (0.069 oz) and length of 5.5 cm (2.2 in). They are so small that they can easily be mistaken for an insect. In comparison, a cicada grows to 2 inches.

Like all hummingbirds, it is a swift, strong flier. Bee hummingbirds can fly for up to 20 hours without a break. Their fast-beating wings allow them to reach speeds of 25-30 miles per hour. They can fly up, down, backward, and upside down.

The bee hummingbird feeds mainly on nectar, by moving its tongue rapidly in and out of its mouth. In the process of feeding, the bird picks up pollen on its bill and head. When it flies from flower to flower, it transfers the pollen. In this way, it plays an important role in plant reproduction. The bee hummingbird interaction with the flowers that supply nectar is a notable example of bird–plant coevolution with its primary food source (flowers for nectar).In one day, the bee hummingbird may visit 1,500 flowers. It is a diurnal bird that can fly at 40-48 km/h, and it beats its wings 80-200 times per second, which allows it to remain stationary in the air to feed on flowers. In-flight, this species’ wings make a sound resembling that of a bumblebee, hence its name. The most common vocalization is an extended, high-pitched, jumbled twitter.

Males are often found perched on high exposed branches. The male has a green pileum and bright red throat, iridescent gorget with elongated lateral plumes, bluish upperparts, and the rest of the underparts mostly greyish white. Female bee hummingbirds are bluish-green with a pale gray underside. The tips of their tail feathers have white spots. During the mating season, males have a reddish to pink head, chin, and throat.

Bee hummingbirds generally live solitary lives, although in the mating season the males form small singing groups which a female hummingbird will visit to select a mate. The mating season runs from March to June, and during this time the male bee hummingbirds’ head, chin, and throat become a bright shade of red as a way to show off to the (less colorful) females.

As well as showing off with their voice and bright colors, the males have other ways to demonstrate their value to an observing female. They each put on aerial displays, including dives in which they flutter their tail feathers. The female chooses the male she finds most impressive.

Whilst it's common for them to beat their wings up to 80 times per second, male bee hummingbirds are known to beat their wings as much as 200 times per second during a courtship display

Contrary to folklore, bee hummingbirds don’t usually copulate in mid-air. When the male and female get very close to each other and fly together this is usually part of the mating ritual, a signal that the female has chosen the male. Copulation usually occurs when the female perches on a branch and the male enter her from behind. After a few seconds, the male flies away, never to be seen again. The males do not participate in selecting the nest location, nor do they help build the nest, nor do they assist with raising the chicks. During the mating season males attempt to mate with numerous females.

The female bee hummingbird lays either one or two tiny eggs in a nest she has made for herself, usually out of bits of cobweb, tree bark, lichen, and plant fibers. The nest is smaller than a golf ball, and there she incubates them for 15-18 days. They fledge around 18-38 days after hatching and go on to reach reproductive maturity at the age of 1. With luck, they can live up to 7 years in the wild.

As the world’s smallest birds, they are particularly vulnerable as their size means that they are also attacked by species that treat them as they would an insect. Thus, they not only have to watch out for larger birds and mongooses but also bees, wasps, frogs, fish, and even spiders. As with many creatures around the globe, human activity has by far had the biggest impact on their numbers. They are not yet considered an endangered species, but are classified as "near threatened".

#Wildlife #Zunzuncito #Mating