Birds vary enormously in size and shape. The ostrich can grow up to 9ft tall. But what about at the other end of the spectrum? Here are the world\u2019s 10 very smallest birds. <\/p>
The class Aves, the taxonomic group containing all birds, small and large, is an astonishingly diverse one. Birds can be found on all of the world\u2019s seven continents, from snow petrels of the South Pole to roadrunners of the Mojave desert.<\/p>
The 11,000 different species come in a dizzying array of colours and shapes, with disparate behaviours, habitats, and lifestyles. They may be completely flightless<\/a> or spend almost their whole lives on the wing. They may burrow into the ground, dive into the oceans<\/a>, or sunbathe on beaches.<\/p> They also vary vastly in size. There is a hefty 155kg weight difference between the smallest bird and largest bird<\/a>, and a 3.7m difference between the smallest and largest wingspan. In this list we tell you all about the very smallest birds, their distribution, diets and fascinating lifestyles.<\/p> You can also take a look at some of our other articles to learn about the world\u2019s strongest<\/a>, loudest<\/a>, and most intelligent<\/a> birds. You may also want to view this gallery of bird photos<\/a> that showcases birds in all their incredible and varied beauty.<\/p> Discover the 10 smallest birds in the world<\/p> You may be surprised to find out just how miniature a bird can be. The smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird clocks in at just 5.5cm in length (for males, females are slightly larger at around 6.1 cm). This also makes them the smallest warm-blooded vertebrate.<\/p> They weigh just 1.95 grams, about the same as a cashew nut. These perfectly petite birds can only be found in Cuba<\/a> and feed on flower nectar<\/a>. They may be mistaken for bees buzzing around their favourite blooms, hence the name.<\/p> Take a look at our hummingbird guide<\/a> to learn more about this colourful group of birds.<\/p>10 smallest birds in the world (by length)<\/h2>
Bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae<\/em>) \u2013 5.5cm\/1.95g<\/h3>
Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi<\/em>) \u2013 6.4cm<\/h3>