Birds are some of the most amazing type of animals in the world. Apart from the fascinating ability to fly, they also have very colourful feathers and a variety of beautiful calls, sometimes so pleasant that it is termed as birdsong. There are many kinds of variation among all the bird species in the world. Some are high flying birds, some are amazing singing birds, some are strange looking birds. The variation in size is also enormous with birds as large as ostriches and emus existing side by side with small birds like the hummingbird. Nature has gifted us many cute and beautiful birds.Here is our list of the smallest and cutest birds in the world.
Small and Cute Birds In The World
1. Bee Hummingbird
The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world and is found only in the island country of Cuba. It is only 5 centimetres long and weighs up to 2 grams. The female is somewhat larger than the male while the male has brighter plumage. This is one of the cute birds that can flaps its wings eighty times per second while searching for food and this may go up to 200 beats per second during the mating season.
According to Seabird Sanctuary (hummingbird experts), the diet of the hummingbird consists mainly of nectar from flowers and it visits over 1200 flowers a day, playing a vital role in pollinating these species. It is also listed as one of the migratory birds in the world.
2. Weebill
The weebill named after its small beak is one of the smallest cute birds native to Australia. It is also the smallest bird found in the country. It is fairly common and lives in wooded areas, sometimes close to human habitation. It is around 8 centimetres long and lives in small flocks. The nests of this bird are made of mud and grass and have a peculiar domed shape. They are non-migratory birds and spend their entire lives in the same area. The main diet is insects and seeds and the short beak surrounded by small feathers helps in catching insects. You can also read about beautiful arctic birds.
Also Read: Top 12 Smallest Animals In The World
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Pardalote
Like the weebill, this bird too is native to Australia and is only 8 to 12 centimetres long. They live in eucalyptus forests that are common throughout the country and do not migrate away from their birthplace. The males and females have similar size and appearance. Their tails are short while the head and wings have a black and olive green colour with white spots. The underside is a dull yellow. These cute birds are an important part of the ecosystem as they help to control the population of pests called lerps that suck the sap of trees. You will also love to read about smartest talking birds in the world.
4. Gold Headed Cisticola
This small bird is found in a wide range of habitats in India and Australia and is a type of warbler. The bird is 10 centimetres long and weighs only 10 grams. It lives in farmlands, grasslands and wetlands and is one of the best builder cute birds, making nests by stitching together grass, leaves and spider webs. The male bird has bright golden and cream plumage while the female has a dark brown body with a cream coloured underbelly. The bird mainly feeds on insects and seeds that are commonly found in its habitat.
Also Read: 11 Birds With Most Amazing Beaks
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Goldcrest
The Goldcrest is found in Northern Europe and is named after the bright yellow patch on the top of its head that appears like a crest. The male is multicoloured with an olive green body and pale yellow underbelly while the female is completely yellow. There is not much difference in the size of the two sexes. They live in the broadleaf forests common in Europe as well as in gardens and is known for its high-pitched melodious calls. During the winter, these calls are very common and the bird appears to be singing in gardens.
6. Brown Greygone
This tiny Australian bird belongs to the family of passerines and is the smallest of this type. It grows only up to 10 centimetres and spends most of its time on treetops. It usually lives in groups of three or four individuals since it makes hunting for insects easier. Their main diet consists of small flying insects and they are found in coastal areas and woodlands across the country. This cute bird is completely grey with black stripes on its wings.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. American Goldfinch
This small bird is found across the United States and is the state bird of three states – Washington, Iowa and New Jersey. They usually live in flocks and can grow up to 14 centimetres in length with a weight of up to 20 grams. They are migratory birds and migrate from the Northern United States to Mexico during the winter. For the breeding season, they move to North Carolina and during different seasons, their calls and songs are different. The bird is bright yellow except for the forehead, wings and tail which are black. Females have similar colouration but are duller than males.
8. Bananaquit
This small bird is found in South and Central America and the family of bananaquits have 44 different species. Each has a size between 10 and 13 centimetres and they can be differentiated by slight differences in colouration and morphology. They generally have a blackish back with the yellow underbelly and the curved beak is ideally suited for sucking nectar from flowers. Nectar and small insects from the main diet of this bird.
9. Tropical Parula
This cute bird is found in the Southern United States and Mexico and is one of the smallest birds in North America. There are about 14 species of the parula and each of them has slightly different colouration. In general, the male is brighter than the female and has more colour variations on its body. The head and back are bluish in colour while the underparts are pale yellow. The parula mostly feeds on insects, berries and seeds. One of the most beautiful cute birds in the world.
Image Source: Wikimedia
10. Crimson Chat
This distinctive bird is endemic to Australia and is one of the many small birds found in the continent. It has a length of about 13 centimetres and weighs up to 13 grams. As the name suggests, the male birds have a crimson head and chest while females are less brightly coloured with brown and pink plumage and they use their strong legs to hop around and walk. The bird usually inhabits drier areas and grasslands.
Image Source: Wikimedia
How many of these cute birds have you seen? In areas with human habitation that are sparsely forested, smaller birds are more common and there is a better chance of spotting small birds at the nearby garden or park than larger ones. What’s more, these small birds are way cuter than some large birds and will add a smile to your face as you see them flying around.
