242 



HUMMINGBIRDS 



From liidgway, Smithsonian. 

 Fig. 320. Calliope Hummingbird. 



1.60, tail .90-1.10, exposed culmen .55-.5S. 

 Female: length 3.50, wing- 1.75-1.80, tail 

 1.10-1.15, bill .58-60. 



Remarks. - - This is the smallest humming-- 

 bird in the United States, and may be distin- 

 guished by its size together with the large 

 amount of rufous on its under parts and the 

 small amount on its tail. 



Distribution. - - Breeds in Canadian and 

 perhaps Transition zone in western moun- 

 tains from British Columbia to southern Cali- 

 fornia, and east to Colorado ; migrating as far 

 south as mountains of Guerrero, Mexico. 



Nest. Willow down, protectingly col- 

 ored with bits of bark and shreds of cone, 

 placed on or against a dry cone or dead 

 limb of a pine. Eggs : 2, white. 



"The Calliope hummingbird is the smallest of the Troclnlidm 

 found within the United States. It is a mountain-loving species, 

 and during the breeding season is rarely met with below altitudes 

 of 4000 feet, and much more frequently between 6500 to 8000 feet. 

 Its favorite resorts are the open timber found about the edges of 

 mountain meadows and parks, and the rocky hillsides covered here 

 and there with straggling pines and small aspen groves." (Bendire.) 



At Fort Sherman, Idaho, Dr. Merrill says its arrival in spring is 

 coincident with the blossoming of the wild hawthorn. 



GENUS CALOTHORAX. 



437. Calothorax lucifer (Swains.). LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD. 



Bill distinctly curved ; tail forked, three outer feathers narrow ; females 

 with tail double-rounded and deeply emarginate. 



Adult male. -- Bill long- and curved; gorget elongated on sides, metallic 



lilac, or violet purple ; upper parts bronzy 

 green ; forked tail with narrow outer feath- 

 ers purplish black, four middle feathers 

 green ; median under parts white ; sides 

 green and rufous. Adult female : similar, but 

 bronzy green above, under parts plain pale 

 rufous ; tail less deeply forked than in male 

 and feathers broader, the three outer ones ru- 

 fous at base and white at tip. Male : length 

 ;UO-;>,.<;<), wing 1.40-1.60. tail 1.25-1.35, 

 exposed culmen .85-.DO. Female : wing 1.65- 

 1.80, tail 1.20-1.25, exposed culmen .75-.90. 



Remarks. - - The female may be distin- 

 guished by its curved bill. 



Distribution. From western Texas and 

 southern Arizona south to the city of Mexico 

 and Puebla. 



Nest. Cotton or thistle down covered 

 with scales of white lichen. Eggs : 2, white. 



From Ridgway, Smithsonian. 

 Fig. 3'_>1. 



Food.-- Insects found in flowers of agaves and other plants. 



