Subscribe Now! Don't Miss Anything We Post. Join Our Email List Today.

The Top 10 Most Spectacular Hummingbirds In The World!

There are about 338 different species of hummingbirds – an amazing family of birds found only in the New World. Their stunning plumage, their ability to hover for extended periods of time and even fly backward’s make’s them one of the most unique birds in the world.

1/ Allen’s hummingbird 

Allen’s Hummingbird” by Becky Matsubara is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) is a species of hummingbird that is one of seven species in the genus Selasphorus. One of the smallest hummingbirds in North America measures only 7.5 to 9 cm long weighing in at 3 grams. The male has a glossy green or bronze-green back and forehead, with rust-colored (rufous) sides and rump (lower back). In some males, the rump is orange.

2/ The Ecuadorian hillstar 

The Ecuadorian hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo), is a species of hummingbird quite unlike any other hummingbirds.

Related Reading:

Iridescent red mixes sublimely with turquoise on a bird no bigger than a bumblebee!

Big for a hummingbird, this species is about 12 cm, weighing in at approximately 8.0 g. The male has a striking violet-purple hood, bordered below by a horizontal black chest stripe.

3/ The crowned woodnymph 

Violet-crowned Woodnymph” by samiamx is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The crowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica), is a species of bird in the hummingbird Trochilidae family. Green above with an iridescent green cap, throat, and breast, the rest of his body, especially his belly, is a deep iridescent blue. 

4/ The velvet-purple coronet

Boissonneaua jardini / Colibrí sietecolores / Velvet-purple Coronet” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The velvet-purple coronet (Boissonneaua jardini) is a species of hummingbird with highly iridescent plumage, being largely bluish-purple below and on the crown, greenish-blue on the back, green on the upper wing coverts, and rufous on the underwing coverts.

5/ The wine-throated hummingbird 

The wine-throated hummingbird (Selasphorus ellioti) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. With a length of 7 cm, it is one of the smallest birds within its range.

6/ The booted racket-tail hummingbird

File:Ocreatus addae (Rufous-booted Racket-tail), Paucartambo, Peru.jpg” (cropped) by Joao Quental is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The booted racket-tails are a small group of hummingbirds in the genus Ocreatus where the male has green upperparts and a long bluish tail. He has a snow-white dense feathering around the legs known as “leg puffs” (which are not always visible). These leg puffs have been described as resembling “woolly panties” or “little cotton balls” above the legs.

7/ The Green-crowned brilliant 

Green-crowned Brilliant – La Paz – Costa Rica_MG_2188” by fveronesi1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The green-crowned brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) is a large, robust hummingbird that is a resident breeder in the highlands from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. The male Green-crowned brilliant is 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 9.5 g (0.34 oz). It is mainly bronze-green with a glittering green crown, forehead, throat, and breast. It has a white spot behind the eye, a small violet-blue throat patch, white thighs, and a deeply forked blue-black tail.

8/ The Chestnut-breasted coronet 

Photo Courtey of Jae – originally posted to Flickr as Chestnut-breasted Coronet / CC BY-SA 2.0

The chestnut-breasted coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in humid Andean montane forests in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is generally easily recognized by its contrasting rufous underparts.

9/ Costa’s hummingbird 

501 – COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (4-14-07) male, east county, slo co, ca (2)” by Sloalan is marked with CC0 1.0.

Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae) is a rare hummingbird endemic to North America’s southwest preferring to inhabit desert habitats. A small hummingbird, they are only 3 to 3.5 inches in length, weighing in at 0.1 ounces. The male sports a vivid yellow streak on his crown, bordered with a lovely shade of royal purple.

10/ The Bee hummingbird

Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)” by Gregory ‘Slobirdr’ Smith is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The bee hummingbirdzunzuncito, or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) are the smallest known living birds in the world, comparable in size to bumblebees. Breeding males have a glossy red-pink head, chin, and throat, along with an iridescent gorget (throat patch) and elongated lateral plumes.

H/T Wikipedia – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Not Only The Smallest He Is Also Said To Be The Most Colorful, Making Him A Stunning, Multi-faceted, Living Gem!

Please SHARE this article with all your bird-loving friends and family!

Sharing Is Caring

 

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *