Esmeraldas Woodstar - Average Length: 2.5 inches

Esmeraldas Woodstar, the tiniest hummingbird in South America, is a highly isolated breed whose behaviors are yet unknown to scientists. Males of this species, while being only 2.5 inches long, stand out due to their beautiful purple throats and the green lines that form a little vest along their bodies. These birds can be found all over Ecuador in deciduous forests, and they prefer forested areas at higher altitudes.

The issue is that it can be challenging to locate them in the wild. From 1912 until the next sighting of one in 1990, the species was believed to be extinct. Even today, they are only occasionally observed outside of the breeding season. For the time being, it is unknown where these birds spend the rest of the year. Unfortunately, because of logging, this species is endangered and is in danger of losing its habitat.