HUMMINGBIRDS 



237 



metallic amethi/st violet changing to blue and green ; back. rump, and mid- 

 dle tail feathers green or bronze, outer feathers purplish 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 with metallic 

 purple ; sides greenish ; upper parts and middle 

 tail feathers bronzy green, other feathers grayish 

 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. Male : length 2.75-3.20, wing 1.7-')- 

 1.00,^ tail 1.10. bill .G5-.()S. Female: length 3.55- 

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



Remarks. — The scales on the crown distinguish 

 costce from any common hummingbird except 

 anna, and in costce the glitter is bluish purple, 

 never pinkish as in anna. The females of anna 

 and costie 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 G feet from the ground, on cactus, in 

 bushes or trees. Egys : 2, white. 



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

 wild rose, plum, and cherry. 



Fig. 



KKlj;wa\ , Miiitli8onian. 

 10. Costa Humming- 

 bird. 



The habits of the Costa liunimingbird seem to differ little from 

 those of the family except that it is somewhat more of a desert-loving 

 species. Dr. Fisher states that it is the common hummingbird of 

 the desert valleys and mountains of southern California and Nevada. 

 He has seen it hovering over a bunch of flowers by moonlight. Mr. 

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

 the nest. 



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



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

 rose pink with bronzy and green lights; upper 

 parts and middle tail feathi-rs metallic green or 

 bronzy ; tail decidedly forked, irit/iout rufous or 

 vhite ; feathers widening gradii.dly from outside 

 to middle ; under i)arts whitisli gh)ssed with 

 green. Adult female : similar except on head an.l ''""" «''l^7»y- «'>'ith.ouian. 

 tail; crown green like back: throat usually Fig. 311. 



specked with rose. )'o«»7 .• similar to .adult femah', but feathers of upper 

 parts edged with brown." Male: length ;;.40-:;.(;0. wing 1.1)0-2.00, tail 

 I.;;0-1.45, bill .(»5-.70. Ftmale: length 3.SO-4.15, wing 2.05, tail 1.30, 

 bill .75. 



liemarhs. — Female anna is larger than the females of costce, or of Tro- 

 chilus alexaudri or colubris. 



