The Smallest birds in the world can be as tiny as your fingertip, yet they hold a fierce vitality. From the minuscule Bee Hummingbird to the clever Tody or the canny Verdin, they are impressive not only for their tiny size but also for their vibrant plumage and incredible adaptability. This article from KnowAllAnimals will introduce you to the top 10 Smallest birds in the world.
1. Top 10 Smallest Birds in the World – Tiny but Fascinating Creatures
Birds have always been one of the most beautiful and beloved animals in the world, especially those with a small stature. Today, let’s explore the world’s smallest birds with us:
1.1. Bee Hummingbird
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Clade: Strisores
- Order: Apodiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Mellisuga
- Species: M. helenae
The Bee Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world, measuring only about 5–6 cm (2–2.4 inches) long and weighing less than 2 grams, yet it possesses a powerful vitality.
Bee Hummingbirds are found in large numbers in Cuba. This bird is notable for its vibrant green plumage. It can flap its wings 80 times per second in the air and can hover to drink nectar and pollinate flowers.
1.2. Tody
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Family: Todidae
- Genus: Todus
- Species: T. todus
The Tody is one of the smallest birds, with a length of only about 10 cm (4 inches) and a weight of less than 7 grams. The Tody has bright green plumage, a white belly, and a vibrant red throat.
This bird typically flies low to the ground to catch insects. It has a high-pitched call and lives a solitary life.
1.3. Verdin
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Remizidae
- Genus: Auriparus S.F. Baird, 1864
- Species: A. flaviceps
The Verdin is a tiny bird, only about 10 cm (4 inches) long and weighing less than 7 grams. This bird lives in the arid deserts of the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico. The Verdin is notable for its bright yellow head, slender gray body, and nimble eyes.
Verdins are extremely diligent birds, building elaborate nests to adapt to the harsh weather. With their cute appearance and tenacious survival instincts, Verdins are a miniature symbol of resilience in the wild.
1.4. Pygmy Tit
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Aegithalidae
- Genus: Aegithalos
- Species: A. exilis
The Pygmy Tit is one of the smallest birds, with a length of only about 10–12 cm (4–4.7 inches) and a weight of less than 50 grams.
Pygmy Tits have keen eyes and a bold hunting nature. They live in the dense forests of South America and have a cute, round head with a grayish-brown coat dotted with white.
1.5. Cetti’s Warbler
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Cettiidae
- Genus: Cettia
- Species: C. cetti
Cetti’s Warbler is one of the smallest birds in the world, with a length of only about 12 cm (4.7 inches) and a weight of about 10 grams. This bird typically lives in marshes, bushes, and along rivers in Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
Cetti’s Warbler has a grayish-brown coat that makes it easy to hide in trees. It has a loud and booming song for its small size.
1.6. Goldcrest
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Fringillidae
- Subfamily: Carduelinae
- Genus: Linaria
- Species: L. cannabina
The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Europe, with an adult bird’s length of only about 9 cm (3.5 inches) and a weight of less than 6 grams.
The Goldcrest’s small size is contrasted by a striking red crest on the top of its head, like a tiny crown. They live primarily in coniferous forests and move quickly among the branches to find insects.
1.7. Oriole
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Superfamily: Orioloidea
- Family: Oriolidae Vigors, 1825
The Oriole is not the absolute smallest bird, but it still belongs to a group of small birds with a striking beauty. It has a length of about 10 cm (4 inches) and a brilliant yellow coat, with prominent black patches on its wings and tail.
Orioles typically live in dense forests, orchards, and tropical regions of Asia. This bird is famous for its clear, resonant song at dawn and dusk.
1.8. Kingfisher
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Suborder: Alcedines
- Family: Alcedinidae Rafinesque, 1815
The Kingfisher, especially the African Dwarf Kingfisher, is considered one of the smallest birds in the world, with a length of only about 8 cm (3 inches) and a weight of less than 10 grams.
The Kingfisher has a vibrant coat with striking orange and blue colors. It mainly lives in the tropical forests of Africa. Its favorite food is fish, which is how it got its name.
1.9. Blue-Rumped Parrot
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Family: Psittaculidae
- Genus: Psittinus
- Species: P. cyanurus
The Blue-Rumped Parrot is one of the smallest parrots in the world, with an adult parrot’s length of only about 12 cm (4.7 inches) and a weight of about 20 grams.
This parrot has a two-toned beak that is orange and grayish-white, and a gray and turquoise coat. It has sharp eyes and a recognizable short tail. This tiny bird is not only cute but also extremely intelligent and mischievous. It can learn to speak, mimic sounds, and form a close bond with humans as a loyal companion.
1.10. White-Browed Piculet
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Piciformes
- Family: Picidae
- Genus: Sasia
- Species: S. ochracea
The White-Browed Piculet is one of the smallest woodpeckers in the world, with a length of only about 10 cm (4 inches) and a weight of less than 9 grams. This tiny bird primarily lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of South and Southeast Asia.
The White-Browed Piculet has a recognizable appearance with brown feathers, olive-colored wings, and a striking white stripe of feathers above its eyes. Despite its tiny body, it is very agile, often climbing on branches to find insects.
2. Conclusion
This article from Know All Animals has shared the 10 Smallest birds in the world, such as the Bee Hummingbird, the Verdin and the Kingfisher. You can regularly visit the blog section of our website to learn about other bird species from around the world.
