When you are asked about the smallest bird in the world most probably you would go for the answer, Hummingbird. You might think that your answer was correct. But certainly it’s not a complete answer. There are several varieties of hummingbirds. Therefore you should specifically mention the type of the hummingbird when you are giving the answer. To find out who the exact smallest bird in the world, go through this article.
Hummingbird
This vibrant bird comes under the family of Trochilidae, of the class of Aves of the kingdom of Animalia. Colloquially hummingbirds are known as the smallest birds in the world. The average length of a hummingbird is about 3 to 5 inches (7.5–13 cm). But the smallest among the hummingbirds (Scroll down to find out the name of that hummingbird) just has a length of 2.2 inches (5.5 cm). They weigh 2 to 20 gram. Hummingbirds have long, narrow bills and small, saber-like wings.
Tiny but attractive hummingbirds have got their name because of the humming sound occurred when they beat wings. That sound is even audible to humans. They flutter their wings 80 times per a second.
Only bird that can fly backwards
The only bird that can fly backwards is the hummingbird. They have got this skill, as they do not flap their wings. Instead of flapping they rotate their wings in a figure 8. It enables them to fly backwards.
Interesting facts about these little creatures
Hummingbird is not just the smallest bird in the world but also the bird with the least number of feathers. Hummingbirds have an average of 1,000 to 1,500 feathers. This feature allows them to fly easily.
Their heart rate per minute is about 1,260 beats. It’s a big number comparing to the heart rate of a human. At rest the average heart rate per minute of a human is about 60 to 100 beats.