Calliope hummingbird
Stellula calliope
Identification Tips:
- Very small hummingbird
- Relatively short tail does not extend past wings at rest
- Relatively short bill
Adult male:
- Bright green back and crown
- White underparts
- Greenish flanks
- Gorget composed of purple-red streaks on white background
- Green tail
Female/Immature:
- Green back and crown
- Green tail with dark subterminal markings and white tips to outer
tail feathers
- 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 much 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.