Bumblebee Hummingbird
Selasphorus heloisa
The Bumblebee Hummingbird (Selasphorus heloisa) is a rare hummingbird found only in Mexico. The bumblebee hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds".
About the Bumblebee Hummingbird
The bumblebee hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is endemic to Mexico, but has occurred as a vagrant in the United States.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bumblebee hummingbird is 5.9 to 7.5 cm (2.3 to 3.0 in) long and weighs 2 to 2.7 g (0.071 to 0.095 oz); it is one of the smallest hummingbirds. Both sexes of both subspecies have a short, straight, blackish bill and a small white spot behind the eye. Males of the nominate subspecies have metallic bronze green to golden bronze upperparts. Their gorget is metallic magenta purple to bluish purple at its edges, and its longer hindward feathers flare out and back. The flanks are light reddish cinnamon with a bronze wash. The rest of the underparts are dull white to grayish white.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Bumblebee Hummingbird can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bumblebee Hummingbird?
- The bumblebee hummingbird is 5.9 to 7.5 cm (2.3 to 3.0 in) long and weighs 2 to 2.7 g (0.071 to 0.095 oz); it is one of the smallest hummingbirds. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see a Bumblebee Hummingbird?
- The Bumblebee Hummingbird is endemic to Mexico, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Bumblebee Hummingbird?
- The Bumblebee Hummingbird is most easily confused with the Wine-throated Hummingbird, the Glow-throated Hummingbird and the Scintillant Hummingbird.
- Is the Bumblebee Hummingbird endangered?
- The Bumblebee Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bumblebee Hummingbird for real
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