Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Overview
The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird in North America, yet it migrates more than 5,000 miles round-trip. Males sport a distinctive wine-red gorget with individual feathers that can flare out like whiskers.
Length
7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in)
Weight
2.3–3.4 g
Wingspan
10.5 cm (4.1 in)
Lifespan
Up to 8 years
Fun Fact
“The Calliope Hummingbird weighs less than a ping-pong ball yet crosses the Rocky Mountains twice each year!”
Fascinating Facts
- 1
Smallest breeding bird in North America
- 2
Migrates more than 5,000 miles round-trip
- 3
Males have distinctive gorget feathers that flare like star-burst rays
- 4
Despite tiny size, can displace much larger birds from feeders
- 5
Often nests in old pine cones for camouflage
Migration & Nesting
Northward Migration
April–May
Southward Migration
July–September
Nesting Season
May–July
Garden Tips & Preferred Flowers
Plant these nectar-rich flowers to attract Calliope Hummingbird to your garden:
