Description

The male has the green pileum and fiery red throat, iridescent gorget with elongated lateral plumes, bluish upper-parts, and the rest of the underparts mostly greyish white. The male is smaller than the female. The female is green above, whitish below with white tips to the outer tail feathers. Breeding males have a reddish to pink head, chin, and throat.

Food

They feed mainly on nectar, and occasionally on insects and spiders. Bee hummingbirds eat half their total body mass and drink 8 times their total body mass in water each day.

Breeding

The female builds a cup-shaped nest, normally lays two eggs. She alone incubates the eggs and raises the young. These birds are solitary, accepting each other's company only during the breeding period.

Conservation Status – Near Threatened

Once this bird was relatively common, but even if today it is protected, its numbers are dwindling. This bird is crucial in ensuring the pollination and survival of several plant species.

Bird watching

It is endemic to Cuba and Isla de la Juventud. The bee hummingbird habitat can be found in woodland, shrubbery, and gardens in Cuba and the Isle of Pines