Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)

Costa's Hummingbird
Photograph by Jon Sullivan. License: Public Domain. (view image details)

Costa's Hummingbird | Calypte costae photo

Costa's Hummingbird (Male), Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Photograph by Alan D. Wilson. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD FACTS

Description
The male Costa's Hummingbird is mainly green above with a small black tail and black wings, and white patches below the throat and tail. The male has a purple cap and throat. The female is grayish-green above with a white underside with green crown and white throat. Immature birds are similar to the adult female, with more gray brown on the upper side feathers.

Size
about 9cm

Environment
arid brushy deserts, semi-arid gardens

Food
feeds on nectar from flowers using their long tongue. Also eats small insects.

Breeding
Costa's Hummingbird builds a small cup-shaped nest made of plant fibers and down, bound together with lichen. The nest is usually built on a yucca stalk or tree branch. The female lays two white eggs, which hatch after 15 to 18 days. The young leave the nest after 20 to 23 days.

Range
South western United States and Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

Classification

Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Calypte
Species:	costae
Common Name:	Costa's Hummingbird

Relatives in same Genus
Anna's Hummingbird (C. anna)

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