Bee

Common name: Bee Hummingbird
Scientific name: Mellisuga helenae
Clade: Mellisugini - Bees

The Bee Hummingbird is 5 to 6 cm (1.95 to 2.36 in) long and weighs 1.6 to 2.6 grams (0.05 to 0.09 oz).

In Cuba, the Bee Hummingbird is an endemic species. They are the smallest birds in the world! According to IUCN criteria, they are Near Threatened. Generally speaking, the species can only be found in three regions of Cuba, namely the extreme west, on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, further east, around the Zapata Swamp, and further east, along the coast. Insects and nectar are the main sources of food for this species. Female Cuban Emeralds are smaller, have shorter tails, turquoise-blue upperparts, and whiter underparts than Cuban Emeralds (Chlorostilbon ricordii). As males sing from high perches and in flight, they are even easier to identify and highly sought after by birdwatchers. A brilliant iridescent red head and throat, with elongated neck plumes, contribute to this.