Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Vervain Hummingbird
Mellisuga minima
Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima) — Hummingbirds of North America.
The Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 2.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Mellisuga
- Species minima
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Vervain Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Vervain Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA Hispaniola, Jamaica.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.4 g, with a wing length of about 3.6 cm and a tail of around 1.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 86,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Vervain Hummingbird?
The Vervain Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 2.4 g.
Where does the Vervain Hummingbird live?
The Vervain Hummingbird is found across North America with a range covering NA Hispaniola, Jamaica, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Vervain Hummingbird belong to?
The Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Vervain Hummingbird eat?
The Vervain Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Vervain Hummingbird migrate?
The Vervain Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Vervain Hummingbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Vervain Hummingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Vervain Hummingbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Vervain Hummingbird's range?
The Vervain Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 86,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
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.