[Birdtalk] Calliope Hummingbird

[Kristin Purdy]

I had another visit by a Calliope Hummingbird this morning at about 8:30 in Ogden, Weber County. The bird was likely a female. I think this is a different one than the Calliope that visited last week. I've only seen several different Black-chinned in the intervening days.

I was asked if the size of a Calliope hits me over the head and yes, absolutely, it does. When this teeny-tiny thing approached the feeder, also noticeable was how still she held her tail, how overly green her crown and back were (no gray or buffy tinges to the crown and I couldn't see rufous in the tail), and that she hovered the entire time. Her bill was very, very short and straight. 

I couldn't see the wingtip-to-tail tip ratio because she hovered while feeding at three different ports in the feeder.

My usual Black-chinned bully must have let his guard down for awhile. The Calliope had the feeder to herself for the duration of the feeding, which was 20-30 seconds.

I'm impatiently awaiting another visit. 

Kris
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