Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bee Hummingbird
Mellisuga helenae
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) — Hummingbirds of North America.
The Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 2.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Mellisuga
- Species helenae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.2 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bee Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Bee Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Cuba.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.2 g, with a wing length of about 2.8 cm and a tail of around 1.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 109,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bee Hummingbird?
The Bee Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 2.2 g.
Where does the Bee Hummingbird live?
The Bee Hummingbird is found across North America with a range covering NA Cuba, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Bee Hummingbird belong to?
The Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Bee Hummingbird eat?
The Bee Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Bee Hummingbird migrate?
The Bee Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bee Hummingbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Bee Hummingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Bee Hummingbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bee Hummingbird's range?
The Bee Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 109,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.