A hummingbird is a small bird with big wings. They are one of the smallest birds in the world, but they are also some of the fastest and most agile flyers. Hummingbirds can fly up to 60 miles per hour (96.56 km/h) and change directions in an instant.
Their wings beat so fast that they create a humming sound, which is how they got their name.
One of the first things you notice about a hummingbird is its size – or lack thereof. The smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird, measures just 2.24 inches (5.69 cm) long and 0.55 ounces (20.79 grams).
The largest species, the giant hummingbird, can reach up to 8 inches (20.32 cm) in length and weigh as much as 18 grams.
That’s a big difference in size! But even the tiny bee hummingbird is impressively proportioned. Their wingspan is proportional to their body length means that, if they were human-sized, they would have an 11-foot wingspan!
And all that wing power comes in handy when you need to hover in midair or fly backward at high speeds.
So next time you see a hummingbird buzzing around your garden, take a moment to appreciate not only their beauty but also their amazing engineering.
How Big is a Hummingbird in Inches?
A hummingbird’s body is about 3-5 inches long. Its wingspan is about 4-6 inches. Hummingbirds weigh less than an ounce!
What Size is the Largest Hummingbird?
There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, and they come in a range of sizes. The smallest hummingbird is the bee hummingbird, which measures just 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) long and weighs less than 0.1 ounces (3.78 grams).
The largest hummingbird is the giant hummingbird, which measures 8 inches (20.32 cm) long and weighs more than 1 ounce (37.8 g).
What are 5 Interesting Facts About Hummingbirds?
Did you know that hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world? Or that they can flap their wings up to 200 times per second? Here are 5 interesting facts about these amazing creatures:
- Hummingbirds are incredibly tiny! The smallest species, the bee hummingbird, measures just 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) from beak to tail and weighs less than a penny.
- Despite their small size, hummingbirds are powerful flyers. They can fly up to 60 miles per hour (96.56 km/h) and their wings can flap up to 200 times per second!
- Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers using their long beaks. They also eat insects that they catch in mid-flight.
- To conserve energy, hummingbirds often go into a state of “torpor” at night, where their body temperature and metabolism slow down significantly.
- There are over 300 different species of hummingbird found all across the Americas – from Alaska all the way down to Chile!
What are the Largest Hummingbirds?
There are around 320 species of hummingbird, and they range in size from the 2-gram bee hummingbird to the 20-gram giant hummingbird.
The largest hummingbird by length is the Cuban emerald, which measures 22–24 cm (8.7–9.4 in), but its wingspan is only 13 cm (5.1 in). The longest bill belongs to the sword-billed hummingbird at 4.2 cm (1.6 in).
However, the heaviest recorded individual weighed in at 26 g (0.69 oz). The title of “largest hummingbird” usually goes to either the Giant Hummingbird or Costa’s Hummingbird.
The Giant Hummingbird is found throughout South America east of the Andes, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile; it also occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
It has a mean body mass of 18 g (0.48 oz), a wing chord length of 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in), and a tail length of 8–11 cm (3.1–4.3 in).
Adults have glossy greenish plumage on their backs and crowns, with some white scaling on their throats. Their underparts are mostly whitish, with some brownish scaling on their flanks and breast bands.
Costa’s Hummingbird is smaller than the Giant but similar in appearance; it ranges across the southwestern United States and Mexico south to Nicaragua.
Adults have an average body mass of 15 g (0.4 oz), a wing chord length of 8·5–9·5 cm (3·3–3·7 in), and a tail length of 7·6–10 cm (2·99–3·94 in).
Meet The Smallest Bird On Earth
How Big is a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth?
You may have seen a hummingbird hawk-moth before and not even realized it. These little creatures are actually quite common in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Though they resemble hummingbirds, they are actually moths!
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the hummingbird hawk-moth and learn a bit more about these amazing insects.
Firstly, let’s talk about size. An adult hummingbird hawk-moth is usually between 2 and 3 inches (7.62 cm) long, with a wingspan of around 4 inches (10.16 cm).
That means that they are smaller than most other types of moths! They are also pretty light, weighing in at only about 0.1 ounces (3.78 grams). Now let’s talk about appearance.
As we mentioned before, these moths resemble hummingbirds quite closely. They have long beaks that they use to drink nectar from flowers and their wings beat so fast (up to 80 times per second!) that they make buzzing sounds just like hummingbirds!
One way to tell the difference between a moth and a bird is by looking at their eyes: birds have round eyes, while moths have oval-shaped ones.
Another difference is that most birds are covered in feathers while all moths have scales on their wings (you can see some of these scales if you look closely at a moth’s wing under a microscope).
Finally, let’s discuss habitat. Hummingbird hawk-moths are found in many habitats including gardens, forests, meadows, and even cities!
They love warm weather and can often be seen flying around during the daytime when it’s sunny out (most other types of moths are nocturnal).
All in all, the hummingbird hawk-moth is an amazing creature! If you ever get the chance to see one up close, be sure to take the time to appreciate its beauty!
Conclusion
How Big Is a Hummingbird? A hummingbird is a small bird with iridescent feathers. The smallest hummingbird, the bee hummingbird, is just 2.24 inches (5.69 cm) long and 0.55 ounces (20.79 grams).
The largest hummingbird, the giant Hummingbirds, are about 8 inches (20.32 cm) long and 2 ounces (75.6 grams). So, on average, a hummingbird is about 4 inches (10.16 cm) long and 1 ounce (37.8 g).