SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #18
California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.
Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #17 By Jim Gain
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Calliope Hummingbird – Stellula calliope
Name Roots: (L. stellula, “little star” – Gr. Calliope [the muse responsible for epic poetry])
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Calliope Hummingbirds have glossy green on the back and crown with white underparts. The adult male has wine-red streaks on the gorget, 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.
DISTRIBUTION & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
The Calliope Hummingbird is an uncommon to Fairly Common Summer Visitor to the Sierra Nevada in the Lower Montane and Upper Montane biotic zones.
CONSERVATION STATUS – IUCN Red List Category
The Calliope Hummingbird (CAHU) is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Redlist Classification Justification: This species has an very large range, the population trend appears to be increasing, and the population size is extremely large. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (DataZone CAHU Link)
PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP – Palette Knife Filter
Reflections of the Natural World 
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