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Birds › Desert scrub › Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costae

On cold desert nights it lets its body cool down and its heart slow, a state called torpor, to save energy.

Where to see it for real: Desert flowers like chuparosa and ocotillo, and a clean sugar-water feeder.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Desert scrub habitat (Sonoran Desert, Arizona and Mexico).

Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae
Photo: Bill Levine, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist. Cut out from the original photo.

Costa's Hummingbird facts

Family
Hummingbirds
Length
3.3 in (8.5 cm)
Wingspan
4.3 in (11 cm)
Weight
0.1 oz (3 g)
Diet
Flower nectar and tiny insects.
Range
Deserts of southeastern California, Arizona, Baja California and northwestern Mexico.
Nest
A tiny cup of plant down and spider silk on a bare branch.
Song
A thin, very high whistle that rises and falls.
Active
by day
Status
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Costa's Hummingbird sounds like

Recording 1: Jennifer Rycenga, CC BY 4.0, original on iNaturalist. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.
Recording 2: David Rankin, CC BY 4.0, original on iNaturalist. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.

How to attract the Costa's Hummingbird

Feeder foods, favorite first: nectar. Feeders that hold them: nectar feeder.

In the game: fill a feeder with nectar. It is an uncommon visitor, so be patient.

More: bird songs and calls, what to feed birds.

More birds of the desert scrub

Greater RoadrunnerGreater RoadrunnerDesert scrubCactus WrenCactus WrenDesert scrubGambel's QuailGambel's QuailDesert scrubGila WoodpeckerGila WoodpeckerDesert scrubCurve-billed ThrasherCurve-billed ThrasherDesert scrubVerdinVerdinDesert scrub

Spot the Costa's Hummingbird yourself

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