Calliope hummingbird Stellula calliope

Identification Tips:

• Length: 2.75 inches
• Very small hummingbird
• Relatively short tail does not extend past wings at rest
• Relatively short bill
• Bright green back and crown
• White underparts

Adult male:

• Gorget composed of purple-red streaks on white background
• Greenish flanks
• Dark tail without white tips

Female/Immature:

• White chin and throat with thin dark streaking
• White underparts with pale salmon wash on flanks
• Dark tail with a trace of rufous color and white tips on the outer tail feathers

Similar species:

The smallest North American hummingbird, females are best separated by their short tail and small size. The rufous wash on the flanks should safely separate females and immatures from all species except the three Selasphorus hummingbirds, which all typically have more rufous in the tail. The streaked gorget of adult males should make them instantly identifiable. Calliope is the only species where the tail does not extend past the wings when at rest.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.