Calliope Hummer Nest

I was over in Wheeler County (Oregon) today, doing some bird point counts, and found these baby Calliope Hummingbirds (Stellula calliope) in their nest. The nest itself, which is made largely of lichens, bits of bark, and spider silk, is only an inch and a half across (and about as high), a mere bump on the branch of the Juniper. The Calliope is North America's smallest hummer.

The smallest hummingbird--indeed the smallest bird--in the world is the Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), which I had to go to Cuba to see. In case you go looking for it, the locals will know it by the name zunzun.