Introduction
The Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada. Weighing only a few grams, it breeds in mountain habitats across western North America and undertakes a long annual migration to wintering areas in Mexico. Its compact shape, iridescent male throat and energetic flight make it a distinctive hummingbird of western forests, meadows and shrublands.
Physical Description
The Calliope Hummingbird measures about 8–9 cm in length, has a wingspan of approximately 10.5–12 cm and weighs around 2.3–3.4 g. It has a compact, hunched appearance, short wings, a short rounded tail and a relatively short, slender bill.
Adult males have green upperparts, a pale underside and a striking magenta gorget. The gorget is formed by elongated, streak-like feathers that flare outward from the throat rather than forming a single solid patch. Females and immature birds lack the bright gorget. They are green above, pale below and often show a peach or buff wash across the flanks and underparts, with some dusky or greenish spotting on the throat.
The sexes are similar in size, although females are generally slightly larger. Immature males gradually develop the adult throat feathers as they mature.
Range and Habitat
Calliope Hummingbirds breed mainly in the mountainous west, from British Columbia and Alberta south through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and California. They also occur in other western states during migration and may be recorded farther east as occasional migrants.
Breeding habitat includes mountain meadows, open coniferous forests, willow and alder thickets near streams, forest clearings and vegetation regenerating after fire or logging. Breeding commonly occurs from about 1,200 to 3,350 metres, although the species may nest at lower elevations in suitable habitat.
The species is a long-distance migrant. In spring, many birds move north along the Pacific Coast, while the autumn migration generally follows an inland route through the Rocky Mountains. Wintering birds use pine-oak woodland, thorn forest, scrub and other suitable habitats in Mexico, often at moderate or high elevations.
Where to See This Species
Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Parks Canada identifies the area around the foot of Mount Revelstoke, including the Nels Nelson Historic Area, as habitat where Calliope Hummingbirds occur. Look in forest edges, clearings and flowering areas during the warmer months, when the species is present in the region.
Nearby accommodation: Revelstoke is the nearest practical gateway, with hotels, guest houses, cabins, campsites and self-catering accommodation.
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, United States
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service documents Calliope Hummingbirds at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Riparian vegetation, flowering plants, forest edges and shrubby areas provide suitable stopover habitat, particularly during migration.
Nearby accommodation: Burns is the main practical service town for refuge visitors, with hotels, motels, guest houses, campsites and other basic accommodation options.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, United States
The National Park Service records Calliope Hummingbirds as rare summer visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park. They are most likely to be encountered in mountain meadows, open woodland and other flowering habitats during the breeding and summer season, although sightings are not guaranteed.
Nearby accommodation: Estes Park is the principal gateway town, offering hotels, lodges, cabins, campsites and self-catering accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
Calliope Hummingbirds are active during the day and spend much of their time feeding, perching, preening and defending access to food. During the breeding season, males can be highly territorial and may chase larger hummingbirds and other birds away from favoured feeding or display areas. Away from the breeding grounds, they may be subordinate to larger hummingbird species.
Males perform conspicuous courtship displays. A typical display involves a steep, U-shaped dive from high above the ground, accompanied by a sharp call and a buzzing or popping sound produced by the wings and tail feathers. The male may also hover in front of a female with his gorget feathers flared.
Nectar supplies much of the energy required for hovering and flight. The species visits flowers such as paintbrush, penstemon and columbine, as well as other cup-shaped or tubular flowers. It also eats small insects and spiders, capturing flying insects in the air or gleaning them from foliage. Calliope Hummingbirds may also use sap wells made by sapsuckers, taking sap and insects trapped in it.
Only the female builds the nest, incubates the eggs and raises the young. The nest is a small, well-insulated cup made from plant down and other soft materials, with moss, lichen and bark fragments attached to the outside using spider silk. It is usually placed on a conifer branch, often beneath an overhanging branch or near the site of an old pine cone.
A typical clutch contains two white eggs. Incubation lasts about 15–16 days, and the young usually leave the nest after approximately 18–21 days. The female feeds the nestlings with a mixture of small invertebrates and nectar.
At night, and sometimes during unusually cold conditions, Calliope Hummingbirds can enter torpor. This temporary reduction in body temperature and metabolic activity helps conserve energy.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very small, compact hummingbird with a short tail and short wings.
- An adult male is best identified by the streaked, iridescent magenta rays on his throat and his green upperparts.
- Females and immature birds usually show a peachy or buff wash across the underparts and lack the adult male’s brilliant gorget.
- The bill is relatively short and slender, and the bird often appears hunched when perched.
- During the breeding season, watch exposed willow or alder branches for a tiny bird repeatedly returning to the same lookout perch.
- The species can be confused with the Rufous Hummingbird, especially when females or immature birds are involved. Calliope Hummingbirds are smaller, have a shorter bill and tail, and usually show less rusty colour at the base of the tail. They may also be distinguished from the Broad-tailed Hummingbird by their smaller size and more compact shape.
- Listen for a high, sharp call and, during courtship, the distinctive buzzing or zinging sounds associated with the male’s dive display.
Conservation Status
The Calliope Hummingbird is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Its population is considered broadly stable, although monitoring programmes indicate a small long-term decline in parts of its range and the species remains a conservation priority in North America.
Important concerns include the loss and degradation of mountain breeding habitat, changes to flowering plants and migration stopover sites, drought, wildfire, pesticide exposure and climate change. Because the species depends on a chain of suitable habitats across its annual cycle, disruption on either the breeding or wintering grounds can affect survival and breeding success.
Conservation measures include protecting mountain meadows, riparian vegetation, forest edges and Mexican wintering habitat. In gardens, native flowering plants can provide useful food, while pesticides should be avoided. Clean hummingbird feeders may supplement natural food during migration, using a solution of one part white sugar to four parts water without added dye. Feeders should be cleaned regularly to reduce the risk of disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Calliope Hummingbird the smallest bird in North America?
It is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada. It is not the smallest bird in all of North America because the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba is smaller.
Where does the Calliope Hummingbird breed?
It breeds mainly in mountainous areas of western Canada and the western United States, using open forests, mountain meadows, streamside willow and alder thickets, and regenerating forest clearings.
Where does the Calliope Hummingbird spend the winter?
Most Calliope Hummingbirds winter in Mexico, particularly in pine-oak woodland, thorn forest and scrub habitats. Some may also occur in suitable coastal or lowland areas during migration.
What does the Calliope Hummingbird eat?
Its diet consists mainly of flower nectar and small insects. It may also eat spiders and use sap wells created by sapsuckers, taking sap and insects associated with the wells.
How can a male Calliope Hummingbird be identified?
The adult male has a bright magenta throat made up of elongated, streak-like feathers. He is also very small, with green upperparts, a pale underside and a compact, hunched shape.
Do Calliope Hummingbirds migrate?
Yes. They are long-distance migrants. Many travel north along the Pacific Coast in spring and return south through the Rocky Mountains in autumn, completing an annual journey of roughly 8,000 kilometres or more in some individuals.
References
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- National Park Service
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