Hummingbird Central



Calliope Hummingbird

Common Name
Calliope Hummingbird
Scientific Name
Stellula calliope
Length
3 1/4"

Range & Migration

The smallest bird found in North America north of Mexico. Favors mountain areas and alpine meadows of the Northwest U.S.

Calliope Hummingbirds primarily breed at high elevations in the mountains of northwestern United States and Canada into Alaska. In Canada, they occur from southern British Columbia and Alberta, and also south to Colorado, Nevada and southern California and Arizona.

During spring and summer they travel through Arizona and New Mexico and northern Mexico, to winter in southwestern Mexico as well as in Guatemala and Belize.

Estimated Population in the U.S. & Canada
4,500,000 per the American Bird Conservancy

Characteristics and Identification

Very short bill and tail. Only hummingbird with a streaked throat. Carmine streaks on male's throat are V-shaped.

Female shows some red on throat. Immature male shows red by late summer.

Comparison of the Calliope and Anna's hummingbirds found in the Western US and Canada


 

Range Map of the Calliope Hummingbird

The map below shows the approximate range of the Calliope Hummingbird. Of course actual areas vary by year depending on weather-related conditions and other environmental factors.

Range map of the Calliope Hummingbird

 

Calliope Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird


Calliope Hummingbird in Montana (Courtesy of Uschi Carpenter Photography ©2018)
Calliope Hummingbird in Montana