Calypte is a genus of hummingbirds. It consists of two species found in western North America.

Taxonomy

The genus Calypte was introduced in 1856 by the English ornithologist John Gould. The type species was subsequently designated as Costa's hummingbird. Gould did not explain the derivation of the genus name but it is probably from the Ancient Greek kaluptrē meaning "woman’s veil" or "head-dress" (from kaluptō meaning "to cover"). The genus now contains two species.

Species

Genus Calypte – Gould, 1856 – two species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Anna's hummingbird Male FemaleCalypte anna (Lesson, 1829)United States(Oregon, Washington, California), Canada, and Baja California, MexicoSize: 3.9 to 4.3 in (9.9 to 10.9 cm) long with a wingspan of 4.7 inches (12 cm) and a weight range of 0.1 to 0.2 oz (2.8 to 5.7 g) Habitat: chaparral up to altitude of 2,825 meters Diet: nectar and flying insectsLC
Costa's hummingbird Male FemaleCalypte costae (Bourcier, 1839)Southwestern United States and the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.Size: 3–3.5 in (7.6–8.9 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 11 cm, and an average weight of 3.05 g for males and 3.22 g for females. Habitat: arid brushy deserts and gardens Diet: flower nectar and small insectsLC
  • "National Geographic". Field Guide to the Birds of North America. ISBN 0-7922-6877-6.