The Top 15 Smallest Birds In Canada

Canada is home to a surprising number of very small birds. We’ve included a list of some of the smallest birds below, all of which are five inches or less in length. Some are hardly larger than a quarter!

Keep in mind that smaller birds are often more difficult to study. Therefore, there may still be smaller species we don’t know about. Plus, identifying smaller birds is often more challenging, as all their features are harder to see.

1. Calliope Hummingbird

The Calliope Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in North America, measuring only 3 to 3.5 inches long. The males are very brightly colored, with iridescent green plumage and a purple-red streak along their throats. They’re also pretty easy to identify, thanks to their bright coloration.

For the most part, these hummingbirds are found in southwestern Canada and in the western United States. They prefer montane and forested areas. Their smaller size and agile flight make them very good at collecting nectar from a range of flowers.

2. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

As you might guess, most hummingbirds are pretty small. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is around 3 to 3.5 inches, making it one of the smaller hummingbirds in Canada. The males are distinguished by their ruby-red throats, hence the species’s name. They also have iridescent green plumage, like many hummingbird species.

Their tiny size and rapid wing beats allow them to hover and dart exceptionally fast. They’re pretty common throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada, making them one of the primary visitors of hummingbird feeders in these areas.

3. Costa’s Hummingbird

Costa’s hummingbirds are very small, but they do have a vibrant violet crown and throat, which makes them pretty easy to identify. They’re often found in arid and desert areas, which doesn’t include Canada. However, they are known for traveling long distances and may end up in Canada from time to time.

While these birds are rarer in Canada than some others on this list, they only get around 3.5 to 4 inches long, making them very small.

They are well adapted to these arid environments, where they often feed on the nectar of desert flowers and are a common sight in desert gardens. In Canada? Not so much.

4. Black-chinned Hummingbird

Black-chinned hummingbirds are named for the black stripe found underneath the chin of the males. They are 3.5 inches long and have iridescent green plumage, like most hummingbirds.

You’ll commonly see these birds in the western United States and Mexico. However, they thrive in many different habitats, including deserts, woodland, and gardens. Therefore, you may find them in Canada from time to time, as well.

These birds are avid visitors to feeders, so you may see them from time to time if you have feeders up.

5. Anna’s Hummingbird

These birds are found along the western coast of North America, from Alaska to Baja California. Therefore, you’ll commonly see them on the western side of Canada, especially if you live closer to the coast.

These birds are exceptionally adaptable and able to live in many different environments. You’ll often find them in urban areas, on coastal cliffs, and flying around woodlands. They’re usually 3.5 to 4 inches long – a bit bigger than the birds we’ve discussed thus far (though still very small).

You can recognize these birds due to the pink-red throat in the males, though the females are harder to identify.

6. Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglets are the first bird on this list that isn’t a hummingbird. These birds are exceptionally tiny and have bright yellow crown stripes, though you may not notice them until the bird is agitated (when they become more visible). This species is olive-green, which helps them blend into the coniferous forests where they live.

They’re found throughout North America, including in Canada. They’re often spotted in the tree canopies, where they catch insects and spiders. They also eat the occasional seed, especially if their other food is getting low.

They only grow to around 3.5 to 4 inches long, making them one of the smallest birds on this list.

7. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

These tiny birds are very similar to the golden-crowned kinglet we discussed above. They even grow to around the same size, 3.5 to 4 inches long. However, they have a ruby-red crown patch instead of a yellow one, though this is rarely displayed unless the bird is agitated.

Their subtle green plumage allows them to camouflage on coniferous trees, where they spend much of their time. They’re known for creeping around tree trunks, where they search for insects and spiders.

They’re particularly found in the northern parts of Canada, though you can find them in nearly any wooden region of North America.

8. Brown Creeper

Brown creepers are smaller birds that only measure about 5 inches long. They’re well-camouflaged with a mottled brown plumage. They get the latter part of their name from their tendency to creep up tree trunks when searching for food.

These birds like colder regions, so Canada is perfect for them. You can find them throughout Canada, though their camouflage and small size make them a bit challenging to spot.

9. Least Flycatcher

Least Flycatchers are small flycatchers that typically measure around 5 inches long. They aren’t the most interesting-looking birds due to their grayish-brown plumage. However, they do have distinctive eyerings that make them pretty easy to identify.

You can find these birds throughout North America, particularly in forested and riparian habitats. As their name suggests, their insectivorous and spend most of their time perching and making short flights to catch insects.

10. Yellow Warbler

As their name suggests, these birds have striking yellow plumage that makes them pretty easy to spot. They’re often small, at only around 5 inches long, but their bright coloration makes them much easier to find than most of the other species on this list.

They’re usually found near wetlands, streams, and forests throughout North America, including Canada. As songbirds, they spend a lot of their time singing and are often a welcome addition to any garden.

11. American Goldfinch

Like many finches, these birds largely feed on seeds, especially from sunflowers. (If you want to attract some to your yard, planting sunflowers is the way to go.) They’re usually seen in fields, weedy areas, and gardens. They’ll happily visit bird feeders whenever they’re available.

During the breeding season, males have exceptionally bright plumage. However, the whole species is yellow all the time, which makes them pretty easy to spot despite only being 5 inches long.

These birds are distributed widely across North America, so you’ll commonly see them in Canada.

12. Warbling Vireo

Warbling vireos are another tiny songbird, usually measuring only 5 inches long. They’re a bit plainer than the songbirds we’ve mentioned this far, with only olive-green plumage. Needless to say, they’re pretty plain.

These birds are commonly found in woodlands and deciduous forests. You’ll find them across North America, where they spend their time foraging for insects and spiders. They’re a pretty common bird species in Canada, and they’re pretty easy to identify.

13. Red-eyed Vireo

As their name suggests, these birds have red eyes. They have pretty plain olive-green plumage, just like the other vireo we discussed, though. The only thing that really sets them apart is their red eyes.

These birds typically only measure around 5 inches long. Therefore, they’re about the same size as several of the other birds on this list.

They’re most known for their repetitive, robin-like song, which they sing most commonly throughout the summer months.

14. Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadees are small birds, around 5 inches long, known for their black caps, white faces, and distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call. They tend to be widespread throughout North America, and you can find them in many different environments. They’re well adapted to forests and suburban backyards, so you’ll commonly see them at birdfeeders.

These birds are very social, and you’ll regularly see them doing acrobatic maneuvers while foraging.

15. Boreal Chickadee

These birds are similar to other chickadees. They behave similarly, tending to sing a lot and be very social. However, they have a more limited geographic range than other chickadees. Still, they are found in Canada, preferring boreal forests (hence their name).

Boreal chickadees reach about 5 inches long, which still makes them pretty small.

Summary of Smallest Birds In Canada