General

Calliope Hummingbird: Very small hummingbird with metallic green upperparts and flanks, and white underparts. Throat feathers are long and purple-red, appearing as streaks on a white background, whiskers when fluffed out, or dark, inverted V when folded. Female and juvenile have pale rufous flanks, green upperparts, white underparts, and small dark spots on throat. Direct and hovering flight with very rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Calliope Hummingbird: Breeds from central British Columbia and southwestern Alberta, through Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California to northern Baja California, and east to Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. Winters from northern to central Mexico. Prefers meadows, canyons and streams in open montane forests. In winter and migration prefers chaparral, lowland brushy areas, and deserts.

Breeding and Nesting

Calliope Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a small lichen-and-moss nest covered with cobwebs, and built on a limb of a bush or well-protected small tree. Incubation ranges from 15 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Calliope Hummingbird: Feeds on nectar, insects, and spiders. Preferred flowers include paintbrushes, penstemon, columbine, trumpet gilia, and elephant head.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water

Vocalization

Calliope Hummingbird: Typical call is a high, thin "tsip." Male display call is a high, thin "zee-ree."

Similar Species

Calliope Hummingbird: Female Rufous Hummingbird is larger with longer bill, darker flanks, and more rufous at base of tail.