Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds in Native American Legends

Hummingbirds reside only in the western hemisphere. Because of this, they have not been subject to European and African mythology. However, they have been the center of many Native American legends and myths.

One Mayan legend says that the hummingbird is actually the sun in disguise, looking to court the moon, a beautiful woman. Another Mayan myth says that hummingbirds were in fact created from the left over feathers of other birds. The god was so satisfied with his creation that he created another and gave them a wedding. It is said that the male bird would shine of red and green when facing the sun but turn a dull gray when he turned away. The Chayma people of Trinidad thought that hummingbirds were their dead ancestors and so forbid the harming of the creatures.

The myths and stories do no stop there. Hopi legend tells of a brother and sister left alone by their parents during a famine. The brother makes a toy hummingbird which the sister throws into the air, whence it became a real hummingbird. The bird then began to bring them an ear of corn everyday and eventually convinced the god of fertility to restore the land. The hummingbird brought about lush green lands once more and was praised.

Hummingbirds are generally viewed as positive creatures bringing blessings. Their small frame and incredibly fast wing movement made for one widely believed myth that they were messengers between worlds. Hummingbirds were as much subjects of interest back then as they are today.