Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae), male
Costa's Hummingbird, Male

Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costae

In the avian world, the Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae, is a diminutive marvel. Adult males reach a mere 3 to 3.5 inches in length, with a wingspan of approximately 11 centimeters. The males, on average, weigh about 3.05 grams, while females are slightly heavier at 3.22 grams. The male is resplendent with a green back and flanks, a modest black tail, and wings. Below the gorgeted throat and tail, one finds patches of white. Its most striking feature is the iridescent purple cap and throat, with throat feathers that elegantly flare out and back behind its head. Females, however, are more subdued in appearance, with grayish-green upper parts and a white underbelly.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Costa's hummingbird, look for the male's vibrant purple cap and throat, which are particularly noticeable when the light catches them just right. The female can be identified by her more muted coloration and lack of the male's flamboyant throat feathers.

Habitat

The Costa's hummingbird favors the arid brushy deserts and gardens, thriving in the Southwestern United States and the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.

Distribution

This species is a common sight in its preferred habitats, breeding in the arid regions of the southwest United States and northwest Mexico, and wintering in western Mexico.

Behaviour

Breeding

The male Costa's hummingbird engages in an elaborate courtship display, consisting of spirited swoops and arcing dives. He strategically uses the angle of the sun to showcase his violet gorget to potential mates. Each dive, performed at high speed, passes closely by the perched female, punctuated by a high-pitched vibration from his tail feathers. In addition, the male will perch and emit a high-pitched, scratch-like song. The female, meanwhile, constructs a small cup-shaped nest from plant fibers, down, and occasionally spider silk, camouflaged with lichen. She lays two white eggs and incubates them for 15 to 18 days, with the young fledging after 20 to 23 days.

Diet

The Costa's hummingbird, like its kin, feeds primarily on flower nectar and small insects, often seen hovering in flight as it feeds.

Torpor

During cold nights, the Costa's hummingbird can enter a state of torpor, a hibernation-like condition where metabolism slows, and heart rate and respiration decrease significantly.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Costa's hummingbird as Least Concern. The species enjoys a stable population with no immediate threats and can be found in protected areas.

Costa's Hummingbird Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Costa's Hummingbird Fun Facts

Did you know?
The Costa's Hummingbird was named after hummingbird collector Louis Costa.

Costa's Hummingbirds on Birda

Sightings

More Hummingbirds

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.