Calliope Explosion!

BAM! The party has started! On Friday 4/28 we had a pair of Calliopes at the ranch. By Sunday afternoon there were too many of the glittering little boys to count. The males usually show up first to claim their territories, then they wait for the demure females to arrive. While they wait, they spend their time feeding and sparring with their frat brothers.

Listen carefully and you will notice that the males of each species produce distinctive sounds as they fly. The pointed outer feathers on a Broad-Tailed male's wings produce a ringing, bell-like tone. Rufous definitely have a metallic buzz. And Calliopes put the "hum" in hummingbird.