COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD
Calypte costae

Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae, is a small (3") hummingbird that occurs in the western U.S. (primarily coastal) and Mexico, but is known to wander eastward (see U.S. Hummingbirds by State).

Field Marks: Adult male has metallic green back, sides, and belly; and iridescent purple crown & gorget; feathers on side of throat extend backwatds along neck; tail is dark. Females are larger, with green crown and back, white belly & breast, buffy flanks, and white-tipped outer tail feathers; throat often has one or more dark feathers. Immatures resemble females. Bill is long and straight.

If you have a sharp photo of a Costa's Hummingbird you would like to contribute for this page, please send it to PROJECTS with info about when and where the photo was taken, the photographer's name, and any anectdotal info about the bird.
Costa's Hummingbird, Archilochus costae, adult male

Adult Male (above) and Juvenile Male (below)

Costa's Hummingbird, Archilochus costae, juvenile male

Photographs courtesy of Animal Pictures Archive

U.S. & CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION OF
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRDS

Breeding Bird Survey Results (above)

Christmas Bird Count Results (below)

Maps courtesy of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey

NOTE: Although Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the primary focus of "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project", we are also interested in other hummingbird species--especially vagrants that appear in winter (mid-October through mid-March) in the eastern U.S. If you know of a wintering hummingbird east of the Mississippi, please report it to RESEARCH. We will contact a local hummingbird bander about capturing the bird, identifying and banding it, and releasing it unharmed.

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