- Selasphorus calliope
Stellula calliope
Identification
The smallest bird in North America; females are slightly larger than males
Adult male: metallic green back and crown, white gorget with purple rays that may be erected to show a "whiskered" effect.
Adult female: green back and crown, white throat with dark streaks, buff sides, and white-tipped tail corners.
Distribution
Breeds mainly in western North America (Canada to Baja California).
Winters in west-central Mexico.
Casual vagrant to Kansas.
Taxonomy
This species has been moved to genus Selasphorus by the North American Classification Committee under AOU; the world wide checklists have followed. It was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Stellula.
Calliope Hummingbird has either no[1] or two[2] known subspecies depending on who you believe. If two, they are calliope and lowei.
Habitat
Prefers high mountains, and has been seen as high as 11,000 feet.
Behaviour
Usually forages within five feet of the ground.
Breeding
Builds its nests over creeks or over roads next to streams or lakes. Usually repairs the previous year's nest or constructs a new one atop the old nest.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Calliope Hummingbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Calliope_Hummingbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.