Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope)

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Credit: Frank Leung (Size: 64.41 kb)

Males

The Calliope Hummingbird is the tiniest bird in Canada, about 7 cm long and weighing barely 3 grams. The male has shiny green upperparts, green sides and a dark tail. It seems to have a dark green crown. Its throat is very distinctive, with purple streaks in contrast to a white background. When the bird moves in a certain way, the streaks fold creating a striking effect.

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Credit: Frank Leung (Size: 43.41 kb)

Females and immature birds

The female Calliope Hummingbird is very similar to the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, but decidedly smaller. Its upper body is bronze green, its sides buff-coloured and its under-tail coverts white. Its tail is relatively short. Dark spots enhance its white throat. Immature males resemble adult females, with a few purple streaks on the lower throat.

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Credit: Donald Owen/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Size: 89.71 kb)

Nests

The female Calliope Hummingbird builds its nest in the shape of a cup, most of the time in an evergreen tree, under an overhanging branch, not very high from the ground. It usually has a clutch of two eggs per year.

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Credit: Steve Geer (Size: 18.39 kb)

Where to find it

The Calliope Hummingbird may be seen from the interior of British Columbia to the mountains of southwestern Alberta. It sometimes ventures as far as southwestern Saskatchewan. It is rarely seen far from high mountains, gorges or forest clearings. It also frequents burnt and clear-cut zones. As is the case for other hummingbirds, it feeds off the nectar in flowers within its territory.

To learn about its range, follow this link.

What more can we say?

To discover a few characteristics of the Calliope Hummingbird, follow this link.