description Costa's Hummingbird Overview
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) is a small avian species belonging to the Trochilidae family, native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States. The bird is highly adapted to desert environments, particularly thriving in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. It was named in honor of the French nobleman Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, Marquis of Beauregard, by ornithologist Jules Bourcier.
help Costa's Hummingbird FAQ
Where does Costa’s Hummingbird live?
Costa’s Hummingbird, Calypte costae, is native to arid parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California. It is especially associated with desert and scrub habitats in places such as the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.
How can you identify a male Costa’s Hummingbird?
The male has a striking purple crown and throat, with elongated feathers projecting down the sides of the throat. Females and juveniles are duller green and lack the adult male’s vivid purple gorget.
Why is it called Costa’s Hummingbird?
The species was named after Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, a 19th-century French nobleman and bird collector. Its scientific name is Calypte costae.
What does Costa’s Hummingbird eat?
It feeds mainly on flower nectar and small insects. In desert habitats, it visits flowering plants and uses its hovering flight to reach nectar while also catching insects for protein.
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