Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
- Family
- Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
- Order
- Apodiformes
Overview
The calliope hummingbird ( kə-LY-ə-pee; Selasphorus calliope) is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada. It has a western breeding range mainly from California to British Columbia, and migrates to the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America for its wintering grounds. The calliope hummingbird is the smallest known long-distance bird migrant, completing migrations twice per year of some 9,000 km (5,600 mi).
It was previously considered the only member of the genus Stellula (meaning little star), but research evidence suggests its existing placement in the genus Selasphorus.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds mountains of British Columbia to southwestern USA and northern Baja California; winters to southern Mexico.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Continents
Countries
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Calliope hummingbird
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
