Breeding Location:
Desert, Desert, semi, Scrub vegetation areas
Breeding Type:
Polygamous, Solitary nester
Breeding Population:
Fairly common
Egg Color:
White
Number of Eggs:
2
Incubation Days:
15 - 18
Egg Incubator:
Female
Nest Material:
Plant down, forb leaves, bud scales, flowers, and bark strips bound with spider silk.
Migration:
Migratory
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Overview
Costa's Hummingbird: Medium hummingbird with green back, pale gray underparts and dull green flanks. Crown and throat patch are brilliant metallic purple. Straight black bill. Tail is green with black outer tail feathers. Legs and feet are black. Feeds on nectar, spiders, sap and insects. Direct and hovering flight with very rapid wing beats.
Range and Habitat
Costa's Hummingbird: Breeds from central California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah southward. Spends winters in southern California and Mexico. Prefer arid habitats supporting Joshua trees and cholla cacti.
Breeding and Nesting
Costa's Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a delicately woven cup with leaves or lichens fastened to the outside, built low on a protected branch of a bush or small tree. Incubation ranges from 15 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.
Foraging and Feeding
Costa's Hummingbird: Feeds mainly on nectar, but supplements diet with insects; forages while hovering.
Readily Eats
Sugar Water, Commercial instant nectars
Vocalization
Costa's Hummingbird: Call is a combination of a pale "chip" and high tinkling notes.
Similar Species
Costa's Hummingbird: Lucifer Hummingbird has strongly decurved bill, green crown, and deeply forked tail. Female Lucifer is strongly buff below, has decurved bill, and forked tail. Female and immature Anna's is larger with darker throat and duller underparts. Female Archilochus Hummingbird has streaked throat.
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