242 



HUMMINGBIRDS 



1.60, tail .90-1.10, exposed culraen .55-.58. 

 Female: length 3.50, wing 1.75-1.80, tail 

 1.10-1.15. bill .58-60. 



Bemarks. — This is the smallest humnaing-- 

 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, proteetingly col- 



TT onA A> „■ ' TT • T.- J ored with bits of bark and shreds oi cone. 



Fig. 320. Calliope Hummingbird. i j • j. j i j 



^ f 6 placed on or against a dry cone or dead 



limb of a pine. Eggs : 2, white. 



"The Calliope hummingbird is the smallest of the Trochilidm 

 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 betw^een 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. ]VIerrill says its arrival in spring is 

 coincident with the blossomin"- of the wild haw^thorn. 



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- 

 ''X,,^ fons at base and white at tip. Male: length 



^^ ;^..40-3.60, wing 1.40-1.60, tail 1.2.5-1.35, 



■ ^mk. exposed culmen .85-.90. Female: wing 1.65- 



"^M/- 1.80, tail 1.20-1.25. exposed culmen .75-.90. 



^K Remarks. — The female may be distin- 



y* ^^1^ guished by its curved bill. 



Distribution. — From western Texas and 

 southern Arizona south to the city of Mexico 

 and Puebla. 



1 luin Ki,i-u:,\. >uutji><,iiian. Nest. — Cotton or thistle down covered 



Fi^- ^-1- with scales of white lichen. Eggs : 2, white. 



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



