Calliope Hummingbird

Small size

One of the characteristics of the Calliope Hummingbird is its petite size. At about 3 inches (8 cm) long, it is one of the smallest hummingbird species in North America.

Colorful plumage

Gender differences

2. Habitat and Distribution

Are calliope hummingbirds rare? Calliope Hummingbirds are not considered rare in the sense of being critically endangered or having very limited populations. However, their distribution is largely restricted to specific areas of western North America, and they may not be as common as other hummingbird species in some areas.

Habitat

Calliope Hummingbirds prefer densely vegetated mountainous areas as their habitat. These habitats can be generally divided into areas of coniferous forests, mixed forests where coniferous forests are interspersed with deciduous trees such as poplar or alder, and alpine meadows.

Distribution

The calliope hummingbird breeds primarily in western North America, from southern British Columbia, Canada southward to the western United States. It is widely distributed in areas including the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and northern California), the Rocky Mountains (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and the Sierra Nevada region of Utah) and California.

3. Behavior and Feeding Habits

Agile flight and hovering ability

Calliope hummingbirds are known for their remarkable agility in flight. They are able to beat their wings rapidly, which allows them to perform precise manoeuvres. In addition, they have an extraordinary ability to hover in mid-air, a key adaptation for nectar access. They can maintain a steady hover while reaching their long, slender beaks into flowers to collect nectar. Their flight pattern is often described as erratic and they can move through dense vegetation with ease.

Feeding Habits

The Calliope Hummingbird loves to eat nectar, a sweet liquid in flowers. They use a long beak to dig deep into flowers and sip the nectar. Besides nectar, they eat small insects like gnats, spiders, and tiny flies. The insects give them the protein they need to stay strong and healthy.

The Calliope Hummingbird has a fast metabolism, meaning it burns energy quickly. That's why they have to eat a lot! To get enough food, they visit hundreds of flowers each day. They remember which flowers they have visited and which still have nectar.

Diet preference

Calliope hummingbirds are particularly fond of tubular flowers such as sempervivums, begonias, and honeysuckles because they facilitate nectar extraction with their long beaks. In addition, they feed on small insects that provide them with essential protein.

4. Nesting

Construction of Intricate Nests

Calliope hummingbirds use a variety of materials to construct small, cup-shaped nests, including plant fibres, moss, lichen and spider silk. The exterior of the nest is usually camouflaged with lichen or moss, which blends in with the surrounding vegetation and provides them with additional protection from natural predators. The interior of the nest may be made up of their own feathers or other soft items. Despite their small size, they can build intricate and beautiful nests.

Nesting Preferences

Calliope hummingbirds usually choose to nest in forests or thickets, usually in mountainous areas. They prefer areas with dense vegetation, which provides concealment and protection for the nest. Nests are usually built at varying heights, from a few feet off the ground to as high as 30 feet or more in trees or bushes.

5. Migration Patterns

Migration routes

Calliope Hummingbirds breed in western North America, primarily in mountainous regions from southern British Columbia, Canada to parts of the western United States, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and California. Some of them migrate directly to their wintering grounds, while others migrate along mountain ranges or coastal areas. The wintering grounds of horseshoe hummingbirds are usually located in Mexico, especially along the Pacific coast, where suitable habitat and abundant nectar sources are available. Some individuals may also winter along the California coast or as far south as Central America.

Stopover points

Along their migration routes, calliope hummingbirds stop periodically to rest and refuel. These stopover points are critical for them to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their migration. Stopover sites may include areas rich in flowering plants and nectar resources, such as alpine meadows and coastal habitats. These areas provide important resources for foraging and resting during migration.

5. Amazing Flying Skills

The Calliope Hummingbird is a true flier. It can do different things in the air. These hummingbirds can flap their wings 80 times per second. They make a buzzing sound while moving their wings so fast. The Calliope Hummingbird can fly in all directions. They can hover in one spot, fly backward, and even zip straight up or down.

This allows them to move from flower to flower quickly. Their flying skills are also important for their migration. The Calliope Hummingbird travels thousands of miles from North America to Mexico yearly. That is a very long journey for a tiny bird. But their wings are strong enough to fly fast with no problem.

6. How can I attract Calliope Hummingbirds to my garden?

After having the basic information of Calliope Hummingbirds, how do you attract these unique feathers to your garden? Here are some tips to help you attract them.

Planting flowers

Plant a variety of nectar-rich flowering plants. Calliope hummingbirds are especially fond of tubular flowers, including columbine, penstemons，salvia, and honeysuckle. Plant these flowers in your garden can help you offer a constant nectar source for hummingbirds.

Provide hummingbird feeders

Water is quite important for calliope hummingbirds. You can hang hummingbird feeders in your garden. The feeder should be red because hummingbirds love the color red and red attracts them. Fill the feeder with a sugar-water solution in a ratio of roughly four parts water to one part sugar. In addition, care needs to be taken to clean the feeder regularly, especially in hot weather, to prevent the liquid from getting mouldy and spoiling.

Create safe and comfortable shelter

Plant trees, shrubs and dense vegetation in your garden to provide hummingbirds with shelter, nesting sites and perches. Safe and comfortable shelters can be very attractive to hummingbirds. These shrubs also protect hummingbirds from natural predators and harsh weather.

7. Fun Facts About Calliope Hummingbird

Here are some cool facts about the Calliope Hummingbird that you can share with your friends:

• Very Fast Wings Speed: The Calliope Hummingbird can flap its wings up to 80 times per second!
• Lifespan: Even though they are so small, Calliope Hummingbirds can live up to 5 years in the wild.
• Small Nests: The female calliope hummingbird builds a nest about the size of a golf ball. She uses soft materials like plant down and spider silk to make it.
• Super Speed: When they dive, these birds can reach up to 60 miles per hour. That's faster than a car driving on a city street!
• Small but Smart: Calliope Hummingbirds have excellent memories. They can remember every flower they've visited and know exactly when it will have more nectar.
• Heart: The Calliope Hummingbird's heart beats 1260 beats per minute while flying. Even when they rest, their hearts beat nearly 250 times per minute.
• Visit Flowers: These species of hummingbirds visit different flowers 1,000 times a day.

8. Why Should We Care?

Why should we care about these tiny birds? The Calliope Hummingbird is an important part of our ecosystem. When they drink nectar from flowers, they also help pollinate plants. This means they move pollen from one flower to another, which allows plants to make seeds and grow more flowers.

Many flower plants wouldn't be able to grow without hummingbirds. We wouldn't have as many beautiful flowers in the world. But Calliope Hummingbirds face some challenges. Because of their small size, they face habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. That's why it is very important to protect the places where they live and make sure there are plenty of flowers for them to eat.

If you want to help hummingbirds, you can plant flowers they like in your garden, such as trumpet vine, columbine, and penstemon. You can also put up a hummingbird feeder filled with sugar water to give them a quick snack.

Calliope vs. Anna's Hummingbird

Calliope vs. Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Calliope vs. Rufous Hummingbird

Calliope vs. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

9. Conclusion

The Calliope Hummingbird is known for its small size and colourful plumage and is found in western North America. Males develop a distinctive magenta patch on their throat during courtship. They prefer densely vegetated mountain habitats and nest in forested areas. Their migration route runs from southern British Columbia to Mexico, stopping in nectar-rich areas. To attract hummingbirds to your garden, plant tubular flowers, hang red hummingbird feeders, and provide shade with trees and shrubs.