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

U.S. supply data have been bullish for prices, with “healthy inventory draws” for crude-oil supplies having “sharply rebuked” expectations for oversupply, said Matt Polyak, managing partner at Hummingbird Capital.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 25, 2025

Operation Hummingbird was set up after hospital bosses contacted the force in May 2017 to investigate an unexplained rise in incidents in the Countess of Chester's neonatal unit.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

Right now, Giant Hummingbird populations, north and south, are stable and the species are common within their ranges -- some even visit backyard nectar feeders.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

Similar in taste to Hummingbird Cake, Morning Glory Muffins are full of fresh fruit flavor.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2024

Fly started sucking on sweet things so Hummingbird had to tell him to wait: “Wait until we see our mother.”

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko