HUMMINGBIRDS 



237 



metallic amethyst violet chang-ing- to blue and green ; back. rump, and mid- 

 dle tail feathers g:reen or bronze, outer feathers purplisli dusky : tail 

 slightly forked, outer feathers abruptly narrower 

 than pair next them ; under parts whitish, belly 

 glossed with green. Adult female : under parts 

 whitish, throat more or less spotted \\ irh metallic 

 purple ; sides greenish ; upper parts and middle 

 tail feathers bronzy green, other feathers grayisli 

 brown at base, with black subterminal band and 

 white tip. Young : similar to female, but duller, 

 and feathers of upper parts narrowly tipped with 

 buffv whitish, ^fale : length 2.75-O.20, wing 1.7')- 

 1.00," tail 1.10. bill .(m-.OS. Female: length 3.55- 

 3.70, wing 1.70, tail 1.05, bill .70. 



Beinarks. -The scales on the crown distinguisli j.^^__^ ^^_^^^^.^^^ ...nchson.an. 

 costte from any common humnnngbird exc^V^ ^ig. mo. Costa Humming- 

 anna, and m costee the glitter is bluish purple. ^^j^,^ 

 never pinkish as in anna. The females of anna 



and cost(v may be distinguished by the small size of costce, and female 

 costcE from females of Selasphorus and Atthis by absence of rufous on tail. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone from southern parts of 

 New Mexico and Utah to southern California; migrates to Lower Cali- 

 fornia and other parts of western Mexico. 



Nest. — Loosely made of plant down or shreds of plant fiber lined some- 

 times with feathers and covered with bits of gray lichen, bark, and leaves, 

 bound with web ; placed from 1 to (> feet from the ground, on cactus, in 

 bushes or trees. Fggs : '2. white. 



Food. — Insects found on plants and shrubs such as squaw cabbage, 

 wild rose, plum, and cherry. 



The habits of the Costa liunimiugbird seem to differ little from 

 those of the family exeept that it is somewhat more of a desert-lovini; 

 species. Dr. Fislier states that it is the common hiimmlngliird of 

 the desert valleys and mountains of southern California and Nevada. 

 He has seen it hovering over a bunch of flowers by moonlioht. ^Ir. 

 F. Stephens reports the rare sight of a male hummer helping to build 

 the nest. 



431. Calypte anna (Less.). Anna Hummingbird. 



Adult male. — Tojj of head, gorget, and long ruff brilliant metallic deep 

 rose jtink with bronzy and green lights ; upper 

 parts and middle tail feathers metallic green or 

 bronzy ; tail decidedly forked, without rufous or 

 white ; featliers wideninti gradually from outside 

 to middle ; under parts whitish glossed with 

 green. Adult fiiiah : similar except on head and 

 tail : crown green like back ; throat ustially 

 specked with rose. l'oi/»7 ; similar to adnlt female, but feathei-s of upper 

 parts edged with brown. Male: length .■!.4(>-;l.()0, wing l.OO-L'.OO, tail 

 l..'JO-1.45, bill .()5-.70. F\wale: length .1.80-4.15, wing 2.05, tail 1.30, 

 bill .75. 



Remarks. — Female anna is larger than the females of roster, or of Tro- 

 chilus ale.randri or rolulrris. 



Ridijwiiy. Smithsonian. 

 FiK.311. 



