hummingbird

American  

[huhm-ing-burd] / ˈhʌm ɪŋˌbɜrd /

noun

1. a very small nectar-sipping New World bird of the family Trochilidae, characterized by the brilliant, iridescent plumage of the male, a slender bill, and narrow wings, the extremely rapid beating of which produces a humming sound: noted for their ability to hover and to fly upward, downward, and backward in a horizontal position.

---

hummingbird British  

/ ˈhʌmɪŋˌbɜːd /

noun

1. any very small American bird of the family Trochilidae, having a brilliant iridescent plumage, long slender bill, and wings specialized for very powerful vibrating flight: order Apodiformes

---

Etymology

Origin of hummingbird

An Americanism dating back to 1625–35; humming + bird

Explanation

A hummingbird is a tiny, brightly colored bird with wings that move so fast that you can hardly see them. You can attract hummingbirds to your yard with bright red flowers. Hummingbirds are so small that they could be mistaken for insects, and many species have brilliant feathers that glint and shine like metal. They're native to North and South America, and are the only birds that can fly backwards. Hummingbirds favor sweet nectar from native red-blossomed plants, but you can also leave sugar water in special feeders for them. Their name comes from the humming sound made by their fast-beating wings, which flap up to 80 times per second.

Example Sentences

A hummingbird is his political symbol, present on his campaign posters.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

At Huembo Lodge in Peru, a male marvellous spatuletail hummingbird fans its extraordinary tail as it feeds on flowers.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

A quest to photograph every species of hummingbird.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025

But for a hummingbird with a broken wing or a nestling with a missing mom, the situation is life-threatening.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

“The hummingbird is small, fast. It lives on flowers.”

From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis