Birds
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope · also called calliope hummingbirds
High in a mountain meadow, a calliope hummingbird no heavier than a coin defends a patch of wildflowers, entirely unbothered by the fact that within weeks it will begin a migration of thousands of kilometres toward wintering grounds far to the south.
Overview
The calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope, is the smallest breeding bird species in North America, native to mountain meadows and forest edge habitat across the western United States and Canada. Its extraordinarily small size paired with an extensive annual migration make it one of the most physically remarkable long-distance travellers in the bird world.
Enormous distance, minuscule traveller
Few migratory journeys are as disproportionate to body size as the calliope hummingbird’s, a bird small enough to rest in a teaspoon completing a round trip each year that would challenge birds many times its size.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable mountain habitat throughout western North America.
Calliope Hummingbird: common questions
How small is the calliope hummingbird?
The calliope hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird species found anywhere in North America, weighing only a few grams as an adult, making its long annual migration between mountain breeding grounds and Mexico all the more remarkable given its extremely small body size.
How is the calliope hummingbird's throat different from other hummingbirds?
A male calliope hummingbird displays distinctive streaked, magenta-pink throat feathers that flare outward during courtship displays, a striped pattern quite different from the solid, uniformly coloured throat patch typical of many other hummingbird species.
What does the calliope hummingbird's courtship display look like?
A male calliope hummingbird performs a steep, U-shaped diving display during courtship, climbing high into the air before diving downward and producing a buzzing sound near the bottom of the dive, a display used to attract females and assert territory.
Where does the calliope hummingbird live?
The calliope hummingbird breeds in mountain meadows and forest edge habitat across the western United States and Canada, tolerating notably high elevations, before migrating to spend the winter in Mexico.