Hummingbird

Question

There are a lot of different names for these little birds in Spanish! If you just want a basic translation that could be used in any Spanish-speaking country, it's colibrí.

But you can also say:

pájaro mosca ("fly bird," "fly" as in the insect, because of its size)

chupaflor ("flower sipper," only used in Mexico and some other areas)

chuparrosa ("rose sipper," only used in Mexico)

chupamirto ("myrtle sipper," only used in Mexico)

picaflor ("flower piercer," especially used in South America)

zunzún (a word that imitates the sound they make; only used in the Caribbean)

gorrión (in Central America it means hummingbird but in Spain the same word means a different kind of bird)

chupamiel ("honey sipper," used poetically)

visitaflor ("flower visiter," used poetically)

joyas voladores ("flying jewels," used poetically)

Answer 1

Great information! Thank you.

As a bird-watcher, the hummingbird is one of my absolute favorites. I knew of only a very few of these informal names until now.

Answer 2

Great info! I love hummingbirds, I have a tiny little nest that the mama had vacated, it is sooo tiny and intricately made, it's amazing!

Answer 3

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.":

"Aquello que llamamos rosa con cualquier otro nombre olería con la misma dulzura."