Selasphorus calliope
The Calliope Hummingbird (*Selasphorus calliope*) holds the distinction of being the smallest bird in North America, a true marvel of miniature avian engineering. Adult males are instantly recognizable by their vibrant, iridescent magenta gorget, which consists of streaky, finger-like rays extending down the throat, contrasting sharply with their otherwise metallic green back and white underparts. Females and juveniles lack this spectacular gorget, appearing duller with green backs, whitish u...
Breeds in open coniferous forests, subalpine meadows, and shrubby slopes at high elevations in Western North America. Winters in arid to semi-arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern U.S., often in scrub or oak woodlands.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a wide variety of flowers, especially those with tubular corollas, and supplements its diet with small insects caught mid-air (hawking) or gleaned from foliage.
Calliope Hummingbirds are diurnal, displaying high levels of activity throughout the day to fuel their rapid metabolism, often entering torpor at night or during cold periods by lowering their body temperature and metabolic rate. They primarily forage by hover-feeding on nectar from a variety of ...
The Calliope Hummingbird exhibits a broad breeding range across western North America, spanning from central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta south through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and into parts of northern California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. During the breeding ...
Least Concern
- The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird species in North America. - It undertakes one of the longest migratory journeys relative to its body size of any bird in the world. - During its spectacular courtship dive, the male produces a unique, high-pitched buzzing sound not with its vocal co...