A large family

Green Hermit Phaethornis guy Credit: Gualberto Becerra (Size: 33.49 kb)

The word "hummingbird" is used to designate the full spectrum of genera and species belonging to the trochilidae family. This family is divided into two sub-families, the phaethornithinae, composed mainly of hermits, and the trochilinae in which we find the more common hummingbirds. Currently, nearly 330 species of hummingbirds grouped into 102 genera have been counted.*

Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus Credit: Jean Léveillé (Size: 52.24 kb)

In scientific literature, the term "hummingbird" sometimes refers to the Hummingbird genus, a subdivision of the trochilinae sub-family. In reality, only a few hummingbirds, such as the Colibri thalassinus (Green Violet-ear), belong to this genus.

Scintillant Hummingbird Selasphorus scintilla Credit: Jean Léveillé (Size: 44.83 kb)

Hummingbirds are tiny birds, their length varying from 5 to 53 cm. They are characterized by the very rapid beating of their wings. Many of them have a brightly coloured throat or crown and iridescent plumage. Their beaks are always fine, but their length and curve vary according to the species.

* Handbook of the Birds of the World