A paradise for bird species under threat

Palpite The wings of the world's tiniest birds are a near-invisible blur as they whiz around tourists visiting a private Cuban garden that has become a haven for the declining species.

The bee hummingbird, which measures just 5cm to 6cm long, is only found in Cuba.

Its losses have been huge, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature saying it has disappeared from many areas due to deforestation.

But in Palpite, in the southwest of the country, Bernabe Hernandez, 75, has turned his garden into a paradise for the bitty bird.

"We never get tired of it. We always discover something new,” he said as he watched two of the hummingbirds zip towards a hanging water bath.