Meet the Hummingbirds
Learn more about the 14 most common hummingbird species in North America.
By Stephen Kress and Elissa Wolfson
Calliope Hummingbird
Stellula calliope
The smallest bird in North America, the Calliope Hummingbird’s genus name means “little star.” Despite the birds’ tiny size, they survive frigid mountain nights and migrate 3,000 miles annually. Males are recognizable by distinctively streaked, rosy throats.
Length: 3.25 inches
Wingspan: 4.25 inches
Migration: Some migrate from Canada to southern Mexico, mostly via the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: lives in high-elevation forest glades, meadows and canyons
Field marks: short tailed with short, thin bills. Males appear green above, white below, with unique reddish and purple streaked throat patches. Voice: The call is a high, musical chip, while the song is a very high, whistle-like “tseee-ew.”
Nesting: Usually on conifer twigs, the nests are built to resemble part of the cone. The female lays two white eggs, then incubates and feeds chicks.
Feeding: often feeds at lower flowers, avoiding aggression from larger hummers, and prefers orange and red tubular flowers, such as Indian paintbrush and lousewort. Calliope also eats tiny insects.
Previous | Next | Allen's Hummingbird | Anna's Hummingbird | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Blue-throated Hummingbird | Broad-billed Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird | Green-breasted Mango | Lucifer Hummingbird | Magnificent Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Rufous Hummingbird
This article originally appeared in Hummingbirds, part of BowTie Inc.'s Popular Birding Series.
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