Tags: bird (57 pics), hummingbird (4 pics) The Calliope Hummingbird, Stellula calliope, is a very small hummingbird and the smallest bird found in Canada and the United States. It is the only member of the Stellula genus. These birds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. Their bill and tail are relatively short. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the throat, green flanks and a dark tail. Females and immatures have a pinkish wash on the flanks, dark streaks on the throat and a dark tail with white tips. Their breeding habitat is open shrubby areas, usually at higher altitudes, in western North America from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to Colorado and southern California. The female builds an open cup nest in a conifer under an overhanging branch. They are migratory, generally leaving their breeding grounds earlier than most birds (although not as early as the Rufous Hummingbird) to take advantage of the late-summer wildflowers in the mountains of western North America. Most winter in southwestern Mexico. Calliopes have been identified in Fort Tryon Park, New York and one was identified and banded in Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Connecticut in dec. 2006 (8 years ago). These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue, drink sap from holes created by sapsuckers or catch insects on the wing. While collecting nectar, they also assist in plant pollination. This bird was named after the Greek muse Calliope. The genus name means "little star".

Navigation Previous picture Back to gallery Next picture View in fullscreen Customize this wallpaper Rate this picture Click on the star to vote Download 1024x768 1152x864 - widescreen 1280x960 1440x1080 - 1080i HD 1600x1200 Use this wallpaper Set this wallpaper as homepage Comments

Users who have seen this wallpaper have also seen:

California Sea Lion, Baja California, Mexico

Green Crowned Woodnymph, Mindo, Ecuador

Snow Leopard

Great White Shark Feeding, South Africa

Bald Eagle

Random Animals pictures

Pussy Cat

3 Cats

Shark

Fiero Animals

Lion

Request deletion of this wallpaper

Claim ownership of this picture