Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird
(Calypte costae)
Hummingbirds feed on both insects and nectar. Although species in North America encounter many nectar-bearing flowers on their migrations, they have a decided preference for red flowers. In southern and central California, Costa's Hummingbirds feed extensively on the red penstemon. Since this plant is found mainly in habitats where Costa's is the only resident hummingbird, it is probably the plant's chief pollinator.

Physical Description
Average weight: male 3.05 g, female 3.22 g. Female birds are larger than males.

Plumage
Adult male: Metallic green back, violet-purple crown and gorget with very long side throat feathers, green breast.
Adult female: Green back and crown, white breast, white throat with some black spots, buff sides, white tips on outer tail feathers.

Habitat
Low desert; in California, chaparral.

Distribution
Observed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and British Columbia. Winters in SE California, SW Arizona, NW Sonora, and Baja California. Costa's don't migrate very long distances, and can be among the first migrant birds to arrive in the spring.

Costa's Hummingbird Range Map