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Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costaeOrder: APODIFORMESFamily: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Costa's Hummingbird Portrait

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Family Hummingbird (Trochilidae)_blue
Species Calypte costae
Length3.5 Inches
Wingspan4.5 Inches

Costa's Hummingbird

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.

● Song: "chip-chip-chip-chip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Costa's Hummingbird: Feeds mainly on nectar, but supplements diet with insects; forages while hovering.

● Breeding & 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.

● 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.

Flight Pattern

Hovers when feeding.
Costa's Hummingbird Body Illustration
● Range & 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.
BreedingPolygamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.1 Ounces