The smallest birds on Earth – hummingbirds

Did you know that as many as 58 hummingbird species live in North America? They can beat their wings more than 80 times per second.  And when they migrate and cross the Gulf of Mexico they can do it non-stop.  

Hummingbirds are amazing birds. They are the smallest birds on Earth. Some of them weight less than 3 grams, being adults, and their heart beats more than 1,000 times per minute.

Moreover, hummingbirds have astonishing shapes and metallic and iridescent colors. They almost defeat the laws of physics while flying back and forth or even flying with their heads down. They live to the fullest, can live more than 10 years and they feed mainly on nectar from colorful flowers.

Because of the fact that they rely on nectar to live, they are important actors in terms of ecological importance. Pollinators play a vital role in the generation of new plants, including edible plants.

The Year of Birds – celebrating the Migratory Bird Treaty

My exhibition of the 58 species of hummingbirds in North America, takes place within the Year of Birds as 2018 marks the Centenary of the approval of the Migratory Bird Treaty, signed by the Congress of the United States and subsequently ratified by Mexico and Canada, since there are more than 350 species of birds that migrate between North America.

Life size sculptures of eco-materials

Each hummingbird sculpture was made using eco-materials such as air-hardening clay, post-use plastic straws and bottles. They are life size sculptures and were painted using Ornithological scientific data.

My objective with this exhibition is to bring people closer to nature while raising public awareness on environmental issues.

Visit the exhibition

Please visit the exhibition downtown Mexico City, at the Museum of World Cultures/Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo, Calle Moneda No.13, Centro Histórico, 06000, CDMX.

Open from October 2018  to 2 February 2019.

Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo

Read more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Act on the National Audubon Society’s website:

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Explained