Costa’s Hummingbird

COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD – (Calypte costae)

Conservation Status: Least concerned
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calypte
Species: C. costae

The Costa’s hummingbird resides in the Western United States, Mexico and as far south as Guatemala during the winter.

Jules Bourcier named the Costa’s hummingbird in 1839 in honor of Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, a French naturalist, and ardent hummingbird collector.

He was recognized for his contributions to the field, and thus, the bird was named in his honor.
This practice of naming species after people, especially those who have made significant contributions to science or natural history, is quite common in taxonomy.

Male
Costa’s Hummingbirds:

The male Costa’s hummingbird is a small, vibrant bird with a bright purple cap covering its head feathers and a matching gorget around its throat, making it easily recognizable. 

Unique to this species, the gorget displays long streaming throat feathers that extend on both sides of its face, bearing a resemblance to the feather arrangement found in Calliope hummingbirds.

The metal plate that shields the wearer’s throat during combat to prevent injuries is the inspiration behind the name of the gorget on a male hummingbird. 

This name is acceptable and fitting to characterize the physical characteristics of male hummingbirds, since they fight fiercely for their own territory.

Read my article:
Hummingbird Gorgets Explained

The male Costa’s hummingbird contrasts its vivid head and throat with a subdued body. Its light greenish-gray underbelly balances its brilliance, while its green back and flanks blend into natural habitats. 

Measuring 3 to 3.5 inches and weighing just 2 to 3 grams, it remains a small yet striking bird.

This combination of striking head and throat colors with its more muted body tones makes the male Costa’s hummingbird a distinctive and easily identifiable species among hummingbirds.

Female
Costa’s Hummingbirds:

The female Costa’s hummingbird has a subdued look, lacking the iridescence of males.

With a dusty white underbelly and a grayish-light-green back, its muted hues blend into the environment, offering excellent camouflage—an evolutionary advantage for nesting and raising young in its natural habitat.

See my article:
Hummingbird Parents: (Mating to Nesting)

Being a desert-dwelling species, Costa’s hummingbirds nest in open spaces with little vegetation.

It has been observed that they build their nests on cacti.
Predators that might try to consume the eggs or nestlings are discouraged from doing so by the plant’s thorns.

Read my article:
10 Common Things That Kill Hummingbirds

Juvenile
Costa’s Hummingbirds:

Juvenile Costa’s hummingbirds resemble adult females. They have greenish-gray backs, pale gray underparts, and may show faint throat streaks. 

As they mature and molt into their adult plumage, juvenile Costa’s develop the full iridescent throat patch (gorget) in males, or retain the subtler tones in females.

Their fluffy white undertail coverts become more noticeable.These feathers are a distinguishing feature and are often more prominent due to their soft texture.

Note: Preening flight feathers is an important daily routine to maintain hygiene and to keep the feathers flexible, strong, in alignment, and parasite-free.

Baby
Costa’s Hummingbirds:

Baby Costa’s hummingbirds are tiny, naked, and completely dependent on their mother.

At birth, they have closed eyes, bare pink skin, and no feathers. They are nurtured in a small, camouflaged nest made of plant fibers and spider silk. 

Over 2–3 weeks, they develop downy feathers, open their eyes, and grow stronger. The mother feeds them a mix of nectar and insects, providing the energy needed for their rapid growth before fledging.

See my article:
Baby Hummingbirds: (Egg to Fledgling)

The two photos below are older fledglings.

Hear the sounds of the Costa’s hummingbird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology link).

Very little is known about Costa’s hummingbirds and their short migratory habits in comparison to other hummingbird species.

Costa’s hummingbirds are primarily found in arid and semi-arid environments, including deserts, scrublands, and chaparral regions.
Their choice of flowering plants also reflects their adaptation to their environment, often favoring those that thrive in arid conditions.

Living in dry habitats, Costa’s hummingbirds have developed adaptations to survive in these conditions. They are efficient in their water usage and can tolerate higher temperatures than many other bird species. 

In terms of social behavior, Costa’s hummingbirds are generally solitary, especially outside of the breeding season. They can be territorial, with males often defending prime feeding territories from other hummingbirds.

See my article:
Why Hummingbirds Chase Each Other: Is it Friend or Foe?

The Costa’s hummingbird is a partially migratory species.
During the winter, birds in the northern portion of their range—especially those found in the United States—usually migrate southward to warmer climates.
People in the southern portion of their range, particularly in Mexico, are frequently non-migratory.

The biggest danger facing Costa’s hummingbirds is human encroachment, which takes the shape of plowed desert areas cleared for habitation and grazing.

Costa’s hummingbirds are known to interbreed or cross-breed, producing hybrids between Anna’s, Black-chinned, Blue-throated, Broad-tailed, and Calliope hummingbirds.

The oldest known female Costa’s hummingbird lived for 8 years and 9 months after being caught and released twice during a banding operation in California in 2001 and 2009.

See my article:
3 Reasons Why Hummingbirds Are Banded