Cuba's Bee Hummingbird, an endemic and rare species, is the world's smallest bird and the smallest warm-blooded vertebrate.
Bee Hummingbird, Cuba (Above)
The adult weighs approximately 0.06 ounces - about the same as a paperclip - and measures around 2 inches in length from beak to tail.
Bee Hummingbird, Cuba (Above)
For comparison, the Cuban Emerald is commonly found in Cuba and is more than twice its size. Along with the Bee Hummingbird, it is known locally as the "zunzún." In his Field Guide to Birds of the West Indies, ornithologist James Bond (for whom Ian Fleming named his secret agent) mentions that the Cuban Emerald is sometimes called the "God Bird" or "Zumbador." Personally, I prefer the onomatopoeia of "zunzún," which captures the sensation of these acrobatic aviators zipping by your head.
Cuban Emerald, Cuba (Above)
I've included a photo of the Vervain Hummingbird from Jamaica, in case you were wondering which species holds the title for the second smallest bird in the world.
Vervain Hummingbird, Jamaica (Above)