ExploreBirds

Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costae

Costa's Hummingbird is a tiny bird known for its beautiful purple throat and fast wings. They love to sip nectar from flowers and can fly in any direction, even backward!

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Costa's Hummingbird is a tiny bird, about 7-9 cm long. Males have a stunning iridescent amethyst-purple crown and gorget that flares out at the sides. Their back is green, and the underparts are whitish with green flanks. Females are duller, mostly green above and whitish below.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderApodiformesFamilyTrochilidaeGenusCalypte
Costa's Hummingbird
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Costa's Hummingbird

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

4

Interesting facts

Males perform a spectacular 'J-shaped' courtship dive from 30 meters high!

Their nests are built the size of a thimble, often with spider silk.

Their tiny hearts can beat over 1,000 times per minute!

These birds use their long tongues to lap up nectar up to 13 times a second!

Special abilities

Ability

Acrobatic Flight

Costa's Hummingbird can fly backwards and hover perfectly because of unique wing joint structures that allow precise aerial maneuvers.

Ability

Energy Saver

Costa's Hummingbird has a special 'torpor' state that helps them save energy by lowering their body temperature and metabolism.

Ability

Super Sipper

Costa's Hummingbird has a grooved, bifurcated tongue that helps them quickly wick up sugary nectar from flowers.

Ability

Territory Defender

Costa's Hummingbird can chase away much larger birds because of their fierce territorial nature and incredible speed.

Measurements & details

Length
7-9 cm
Wingspan
10.5-11.5 cm
Weight
0.0028-0.0035 kg
Lifespan
3-8 years
Top Speed
60 km/h
Clutch Size
2
Incubation
15-18 days

Diet & Feeding

They mostly drink flower nectar for energy and eat tiny insects for protein.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Small spiders
  • Fruit flies
  • Gnats
  • Mosquitoes

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Costa's Hummingbird?

The easiest way to identify Costa's Hummingbird is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Costa's Hummingbird?

7-9 cm

What is Costa's Hummingbird's wingspan?

10.5-11.5 cm

How much does Costa's Hummingbird weigh?

0.0028-0.0035 kg

How long does Costa's Hummingbird live?

3-8 years

How fast can Costa's Hummingbird move?

60 km/h

What does Costa's Hummingbird eat?

They mostly drink flower nectar for energy and eat tiny insects for protein.

Where is Costa's Hummingbird usually found?

Desert

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