1. any of numerous new world birds of the family Trochilidae, usually very small in size and having brilliant iridescent plumage, a long slender bill, and wings capable of beating very rapidly, thereby enabling the bird to hover.

1. any of various small american birds in the family Trochilidae that have the ability to hover.

1. any bird of the family Trochilidæ, of which over one hundred genera are known, including about four hundred species. they are found only in america and are most abundant in the tropics. they are mostly of very small size with long slender bills adapted to sucking nectar from flowers, and are noted for the very brilliant iridescent colors of their plumage and their peculiar habit of hovering about flowers while vibrating their wings very rapidly with a humming noise; the wings are specialized for hovering flight, but they can also dart forward and fly quite rapidly. they feed both upon the nectar of flowers and upon small insects. the common humming bird or ruby-throat of the eastern united states is Trochilus colubris. several other species are found in the western united states. see calliope, and ruby-throat.

1. A bird whose wings, by their rapid vibration, make a humming sound; any bird of the family Trochilidæ.

1. tiny american bird having brilliant iridescent plumage and long slender bills; wings are specialized for vibrating flight