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==