Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
Nightjars, Swifts, & Hummingbirds
Casual
Calliope Hummingbird, male - Niland, CA © Tom Benson
Calliope Hummingbird, female - Niland, CA © Tom Benson
The Calliope Hummingbird is a casual visitor to campus: a male and female were seen together on 02 May 2012 in the CSUSB Preserve. It is a fairly uncommon breeding bird in the mountains of southern California.The adult male Calliope Hummingbird can be identified by its gorget of magenta streaks on the throat. Females are similar in size and shape to males, but lack the magenta gorget, and have rows of fine spots on the throat and buff-colored sides. Measuring only 3.25 inches in length, the Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird in North America.