There are many tiny birds in the world, and most people rarely see them. Do you want to know which are the smallest birds in the world? This article will introduce you to ten of the smallest birds: the hummingbird, Koch's hummingbird, little spiky-billed warbler, spotted fruit beetle, banana warbler, goldfinch, dark-backed goldfinch, golden-headed fantail warbler, brown-nosed warbler, and scarlet ravens. Come and see just how small these birds really are!
1. Humming bird (5.6-6.5 cm)
The hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world and the smallest of all warm-blooded animals. It measures approximately 5.6–6.5 centimeters in length, including its beak and tail feathers (which typically make up half its total body length). While smaller than a horsefly, it is not as robust as a bumblebee. Its average weight is only 2 grams, lighter than a coin, and its eggs weigh about 0.2 grams, similar to a pea. Its beak is very long and thin, like a needle, and its tongue is like a fine thread. The male has a glossy blue-green upper body, a bright red throat, iridescent horizontal stripes around the throat and neck, and a white belly.
2. Koch's Hummingbird (7.62-8.89 cm)
Koch's hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the southwestern part of North America, belonging to the genus Koch. They inhabit relatively arid scrublands and even the edges of deserts. This hummingbird primarily feeds on nectar but also preys on small insects. It measures approximately 3 to 3.5 inches (7.62 to 8.89 cm) in length and weighs an average of about 0.1 ounces (approximately 2.83 grams). Koch's hummingbird is considered one of the smaller hummingbird species.
3. Little Rough-billed Warbler (7.62-8.89 cm)
The Little Rough-billed Warbler is a bird species found in Australia and New Zealand, including the Australian mainland, New Zealand, Tasmania, and surrounding islands. Measuring only about 3 to 3.5 inches (7.62 to 8.89 cm) in length, this bird surpasses the Spotted Fruit Pecker to become one of the smallest bird species in Australia.
4. Spotted Fruit Pecker (7.87-9.9 cm)
The Spotted Fruitpecker is small and beautiful, with stunning colors and patterns on its plumage. It is nicknamed the "Diamond Bird" because of its distinctive white spots. It measures only about 3.1 to 3.9 inches (7.87 to 9.9 cm) in length. The Forty-Spotted Fruitpecker is a species of fruitpecker in the family Spotted Fruitpeckeridae and is a rare bird endemic to Australia. They are among the smallest birds on the Australian continent, measuring only about 9 cm in length.
5. Banana Warbler (7-12 cm)
The Banana Warbler is widely distributed in the West Indies (except Cuba) and from southern Mexico to Argentina. It has a pale black coat and a yellow underparts, usually with a white eyebrow stripe and white patches on its wings. Its beak is pointed and curved, and it feeds on nectar, sometimes also eating insects and fruit. The Banana Warbler is adept at building dome-shaped nests using banana leaf fibers. As a member of the order Passeriformes, the Banana Warbler is between 7 and 12 centimeters long and weighs between 5.5 and 19 grams. It is considered one of the smallest, cutest, and most beautiful birds in the world.
6. Goldfinch (8.38-9.4 cm)
The Goldfinch is the national bird of Luxembourg. Widely distributed, they are known for their melodious songs and graceful movements. It is the smallest bird in Europe, measuring approximately 3.3 to 3.7 inches (8.38 to 9.4 cm) in length and weighing only 0.16 to 0.25 ounces (4.53 to 7.08 grams). The Goldfinch's primary diet consists of small spiders and insects, including beetles, butterflies, cicadas, and moths. A single Goldfinch can eliminate eight to ten million pests annually.
7. Dark-backed Goldfinch (8.89-11.93 cm)
The Dark-backed Goldfinch is a member of the goldfinch family. They are the smallest finch in the genus Eurasian finches of North America, and possibly one of the smallest Eurasian finches in the world. They are only 3.5 to 4.7 inches (8.89 to 11.93 cm) long and weigh only about 0.28 to 0.41 ounces (7.9 to 11.6 grams).
8. Golden-headed Fantail Warbler (9-11 cm)
The Golden-headed Fantail Warbler, also known as the Yellow-headed Fantail Warbler, is a small warbler (9-11 cm) with brown streaks. It is distributed in South and Southeast Asia, between India and Australia. The type locality of this species is Sydney, Australia. It inhabits tall grasslands, reed beds, and rice paddies. It is elusive, sometimes perching on tall grass stalks or low bushes. Its flight is undulating. During the breeding season, the male emits a piercing "buzz" sound from its roost or in flight, followed by a loud, flowing "plook," and also a harsh, high-pitched scolding call.
9. Brown-nosed Warbler (9-11 cm)
The Brown-eared Warbler is a member of the Shriketidae family and inhabits Australia and New Zealand, including the Australian mainland, New Zealand, Tasmania, and surrounding islands. They measure approximately 9 to 11 centimeters in length and weigh about 5 to 6 grams. The Brown-eared Warbler is also a protected species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to version 3.1 of the 2009 Red List of Threatened Species.
10. Scarlet Australian Crow (10-12 cm)
The Scarlet Australian Crow is a fascinating creature belonging to the family Crowidae in the order Passeriformes. Its distribution spans Australia and New Zealand, including Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and surrounding islands. This bird is characterized by its bright red breast and head, dark grey back, and white throat. Females, however, lack any red markings except for their rump. They typically measure 4-5 inches (approximately 10-12 cm) in length and weigh about 10-12 grams.
