top of page
   

Home   |   Sitemap
USA Hummingbird Directories   |   Canada Hummingbird Directories   |   Hummingbirds

You are here... (Hummingbirds)   >  Costa's Hummingbird
xxx

Adult Male
www.usgs.gov		  

Adult Female at Nest with Young
© Marguerite Gregory
California Academy of Sciences		  

  Innovative location ... pretty smart!
© 2006 Angela Hyder
calphotos.berkeley.edu
xxx

Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)...

The Costa's hummingbirds are small - the mature adults are only 3 to 3½ inches in length.

Costa's hummingbirds have long, straight, thin bills. The male Costa's hummingbird has a mainly green back and flanks, a small entirely black tail and wings, and patches of white below his gorget (throat) and his tail. The most distinguishing feature is his vibrant purple cap and throat. The iridescent purple-violet throat feathers flare out to a point. The female Costa's hummingbird is not as distinct as the male, having grayish-green upperparts and a gray-white chin and underbelly. Her tail is also dark, but it has white tips on the outer tail feathers. Juveniles are like the adult female in coloring and size. Young males get those fabulous purple markings by their first breeding season.

The Costa's hummingbird is fairly common in the arid brushy deserts (and any nearby gardens) of the Southwestern US and the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.

The male Costa's hummingbird's courtship display is a lively series of swoops and arcing dives, carefully utilizing the optimum angle to the sun to show off his violet plumage. Each high-speed dive, accented by a high-pitched shriek, passes within inches of the female.

The female Costa's hummingbird builds a small cup-shaped nest with plant fibers and down, and covers it with lichen to hold it together. The nest is situated above ground on a yucca stalk or tree limb (or cactus-see picture to the right). The female incubates two tiny white eggs for 15 to 18 days. The fledglings leave the nest 20 to 23 days after hatching. Only one brood is raised each year.

Hybrids between the Costa's hummingbird and the Black-chinned hummingbird, as well as the Broad-tailed hummingbird, are known.

The Costa's hummingbird commemorates French nobleman Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, Marquis de Beauregard (1806-1864).

Acknowledgements:
www.wikipedia.com
www.usgs.gov

  

More
 Hummingbird Articles
Allen's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Blue-Throated Hummingbird
Broad-Billed Hummingbird
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird
Buff-Bellied Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
Lucifer Hummingbird
Magnificent Hummingbird
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Violet-Crowned Hummingbird
White-Eared Hummingbird

(Coming Soon:)
Antillean Crested Hummingbird
Bahamas Woodstar Hummingbird
Berylline Hummingbird
 Bumblebee Hummingbird
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Cuban Emerald
Green-Breasted Mango Hummingbird
Green Violet-Ear Hummingbird
Plain-Capped Starthroat Hummingbird
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird
Xantus' Hummingbird

For peace of mind while you're away from home... looking for hummingbird sightings.

xxx

Costa's Hummingbird Video...

 "Costa's Hummingbird in Sunlight"
Thanks to jwmadn for posting this video on www.YouTube.com

  
Susan's Hummingbird Gardens
 This is our "sister site". Check out the hummingbird articles, information, and products.
Susan's Hummingbird Gardens

Susan's Bird Gardens
  This is another "sister site". Check out the articles, information, and products on everyone's favorite song birds.
Susan's Bird Gardens

Susan's Gardens
  This is the "portal" blog for all of Susan's Gardens. Browse through all the great sites available.
Susan's Gardens
xxx

Costa's Hummingbird
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Map...

Courtesy of www.usgs.gov

  

Breeding Bird Survey...
This survey is typically performed in June by volunteers on over 4000 bird counts. The counts are done by vehicle during the morning. Many nocturnal or less vocal species are not well surveyed by the BBS. Data from this survey is used to generate the BBS maps.
(courtesy of www.usgs.gov)

xxx

Costa's Hummingbird
Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Map...

Courtesy of www.usgs.gov

  

Christmas Bird Count...
This survey is performed in one calendar day any time from mid-December to early January by volunteers. Birds are counted in an area with a 15 mile radius. Data from this survey is used to generate the CBC maps
(courtesy of www.usgs.gov)

xxx

Books About Hummingbirds...

(feel free to change the search box) 		 

Binoculars for Birdwatching...

(feel free to change the search box)		  

Current
Environmental
News...
xxx

Navigation Tips...  Use the category navigation links right under the header on each page to move around the site. Keep track of where you are with the "You are here" feature just below the navigation links.  Each article within each category lists links to more articles, making it much easier for you. The Sitemap offers an overview of the entire site, and is also a good navigation tool.
xxx

(to top of page)

PRIVACY POLICY       |      TERMS OF USE      |      DISCLAIMER       |      PURCHASE AGREEMENT
          
Copyright © 2006-2009  NameThatHummingbird.com  -  All Rights Reserved
 Hopkins Enterprises - Carlsbad, NM 88220  

hummingbird