Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusSelasphorus (Rufous, Allen's, and Allied Hummingbirds)
- SpeciesSelasphorus calliope (Calliope Hummingbird)
About the Calliope Hummingbird
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. The bird was named after the Greek muse Calliope. The calliope is the smallest breeding bird found in Canada and the United States. An adult calliope hummingbird can measure 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) in length, span 11 cm (4.3 in) across the wings and weigh 2 to 3 g (0.071 to 0.106 oz).
Calliope hummingbirds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the gorget, green flanks, and a dark tail. When an adult male is competing for territory or females, the dark red feathers of its gorget distend outwards to create... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus latirostris
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
White-eared Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Lampornis clemenciae
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Leucolia violiceps
Lucifer Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 12 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 13 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 16 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 18 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Calliope Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Calliope Hummingbird sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 151 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Calliope Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Calliope Hummingbird in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.