Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
The Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) is a uncommon hummingbird found in 3 countries, weighing about 3 g. The calliope hummingbird is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada.
About the Calliope Hummingbird
The calliope hummingbird is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada. It has a western breeding range mainly from California to British Columbia, and migrates to the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America for its wintering grounds. The calliope hummingbird is the smallest known long-distance bird migrant, completing migrations twice per year of some 9,000 km (5,600 mi).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The calliope is the smallest breeding bird found in Canada and the United States. An adult calliope hummingbird can measure 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) in length, span 11 cm (4.3 in) across the wings and weigh 2 to 3 g (0.071 to 0.106 oz). Calliope hummingbirds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the gorget, green flanks, and a dark tail. When an adult male is competing for territory or females, the dark red feathers of its gorget distend outwards to create a more distinct appearance.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Calliope Hummingbird?
- The calliope is the smallest breeding bird found in Canada and the United States. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Calliope Hummingbird?
- The Calliope Hummingbird is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Calliope Hummingbird?
- The Calliope Hummingbird occurs in 3 countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Calliope Hummingbird?
- The Calliope Hummingbird is most easily confused with the Volcano Hummingbird, the Scintillant Hummingbird and the Bumblebee Hummingbird.
- Is the Calliope Hummingbird endangered?
- The Calliope Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Calliope Hummingbird for real
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