# 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! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Costa's Hummingbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Costas-hummingbird.JPG&width=800) Photo: K.lee, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Costas-hummingbird.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Apodiformes - **Family:** Trochilidae - **Genus:** Calypte ## 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 - **Acrobatic Flight:** Costa's Hummingbird can fly backwards and hover perfectly because of unique wing joint structures that allow precise aerial maneuvers. - **Energy Saver:** Costa's Hummingbird has a special 'torpor' state that helps them save energy by lowering their body temperature and metabolism. - **Super Sipper:** Costa's Hummingbird has a grooved, bifurcated tongue that helps them quickly wick up sugary nectar from flowers. - **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 - **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 - **Pollinates:** [Ocotillo](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocotillo) (*Fouquieria splendens*) — Provides sugary nectar while transferring pollen between flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Chuparosa](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chuparosa) (*Justicia californica*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in the pollination of this desert shrub. - **Eaten by:** [Loggerhead Shrike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/loggerhead-shrike) (*Lanius ludovicianus*) — Known to capture and impale small birds and insects, including hummingbirds. - **Shelter:** [Creosote Bush](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creosote-bush) (*Larrea tridentata*) — Often builds its tiny nest safely within the protective branches of this hardy desert shrub. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arizona-sonora-desert-museum) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [Desert Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-botanical-garden) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Living Desert Zoo and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/living-desert-zoo-and-gardens-california) — California, US · Zoo - [Tohono Chul](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tohono-chul) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Ohlone Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ohlone-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Costa's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/costas-hummingbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Costa's Hummingbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/costas-hummingbird)