Calliope Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
Name Origin:
The genus name Selasphorus comes from the Greek selas meaning “light” or “flame” and phoros meaning “bearing,” describing the group’s fiery iridescence. The species name calliope refers to the Greek muse of eloquence and epic poetry, symbolizing beauty and grace — a fitting name for this small but striking hummingbird.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in)
⚖️ Weight: 2–3 g (0.07–0.10 oz)
🌎 Range: Western North America to southern Mexico
🧭 Elevation: Breeds 1,200–3,400 m (3,900–11,150 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Montane meadows, forest edges, and open coniferous woodland
🧬 Clade: Lampornithini "North American Flame Hummingbirds"
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.
Distribution: Breeds in the western United States and southern British Columbia, including the Rocky Mountains, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada, and winters in central and southern Mexico. It migrates long distances across the western U.S. and Mexico, following mountain flower blooms.
Species Overview
The Calliope Hummingbird is a marvel of miniaturization and migration. Despite weighing less than a U.S. penny, it undertakes one of the longest migrations relative to body size of any bird in the world. It breeds in high mountain meadows filled with wildflowers and spends winters in the pine-oak and subtropical forests of Mexico.
Male Description:
The male has bright green upperparts, a white breast, and a stunning magenta-pink gorget composed of elongated, streak-like feathers that flare outward during display. The tail is dark green-bronze with rufous edges, and the bill is short and straight. Males perform elaborate diving displays accompanied by trilling wing sounds to court females and defend territories.
Female Description:
The female is green above and pale buff below, with a whitish throat faintly spotted with green. The tail shows rufous bases and dark tips, and she lacks the male’s dramatic gorget but retains the same overall compact proportions.
Habitat & Behavior:
This species breeds in open montane forest, willow thickets, and subalpine meadows, usually near streams or patches of wildflowers. It feeds on nectar from Castilleja, Penstemon, Delphinium, and Lonicera, as well as on small insects caught in flight. The Calliope Hummingbird is highly territorial and aggressive for its size, often chasing away larger hummingbirds from favored flowers. Its migration route includes stopovers in arid lowlands and mountain corridors, timed precisely with flower availability.
Conservation Note:
The Calliope Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread and common throughout its range. Its populations are stable, though long-term monitoring is essential due to climate-related shifts in flower phenology and mountain habitat loss. Conservation of montane meadows and migratory stopover habitats is key to sustaining this extraordinary miniature traveler.
