Bee Hummingbird
Bee Hummingbird
Bird
The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird on Earth, weighing less than a penny and beating its wings so fast that it can hover in mid-air.
💡 Fun Facts
- The smallest and lightest bird in the world.
- They weigh less than a penny.
- They lay eggs that are smaller than coffee beans.
Name Story
Mellisuga helenae
means “Helen's honey-sucker”
What does its name mean?
- Mellisuga — honey-suckerLatin mel 'honey' + sugere 'to suck'
- helenae — of Helennamed in honour of a woman called Helena
The smallest bird in the whole world sips sweet nectar from flowers — a true 'honey-sucker' — and it is so tiny, about the size of a bumblebee, that people often mistake it for one.