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Bumblebee Hummingbird: The Mexican Buzzer
You might think these birds sound like a bee as they buzz past!
© Professor Daniel J. Field
Mexico's Bumblebee Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world. Less than 3 inches in size and weighing less than a bottlecap, they’re easily confused with a bumblebee as they buzz by. But as tiny as they are, they defend their breeding territories fiercely. Perhaps that’s why the ancient Mexicas associated hummingbirds with their most important god: Huitzilopochtli, the god of war…and of love. Huitzil means hummingbird in Náhuatl.
Listen to this episode in Spanish here.
BirdNote®
Bumblebee Hummingbird: The Mexican Buzzer
Written by Lucina Melesio
This is BirdNote.
Mexico's Bumblebee Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world. Less than 3 inches in size and weighing less than a bottlecap, they’re easily confused with a bumblebee as they buzz by.
[Bumblebee Hummingbird buzz]
Because of their bright green, blue and purple colors, Bumblebee Hummingbirds can also look like beetles. And that’s why they’re known locally as “mayatito”, which means bright-colored scarab in Náhuatl, the language of the Mexicas.
[Bumblebee Hummingbird flight calls]
During the breeding season, male Bumblebee Hummingbirds put on a show to attract females. They fly in U-shaped patterns, buzz with their wings, and show off their colorful plumage.
As tiny as they are, Bumblebee Hummingbirds are fierce. Males defend their feeding territories vigorously, chasing off competitors and performing aggressive display flights.
Perhaps that’s why the ancient Mexicas associated hummingbirds with their most important god: Huitzilopochtli, the god of war…and of love. Huitzil means hummingbird in Náhuatl
[Bumblebee Hummingbird song]
Bumblebee Hummingbirds are mostly found in Western Mexico and parts of Central America. So if you’re in the area and you feel like a bumblebee is flying by, think again before you try scaring it away –it might be the tiniest little warrior buzzing past.
For BirdNote, I’m Lucina Melesio.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Bumblebee Hummingbird ML29692091 and ML48255651 recorded by Andrew Spencer.
Bumblebee Hummingbird Xeno Canto XC681644 recorded by Manuel Grosselet.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2023 BirdNote October 2023
Narrator: Lucina Melesio
ID# BUHU-01-2023-10-03 BUHU-01
Lucina Melesio
Writer Narrator