HUMMINGBIRDS 



237 



, Smithsonian. 



. ^ 



metallic amethyst 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 



buffy whitish. Male : length 2.75-3.20, wing 1.75- 



1.90, tail 1.10, bill .65-68. 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 j^g. 31o r 

 anna, and in costce the glitter is bluish purple, 

 never pinkish as in anna. The females of anna 

 and costai 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 6 feet from the ground, on cactus, in 

 bushes or trees. Eggs : 2, white. 



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

 wild rose, plum, and cherry. 



The habits of the Costa hummingbird 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 male. Top of head, gorget, and long ruff brilliant metallic deep 

 rose pink with bronzy and green lights ; upper 

 parts and middle tail feathers metallic green or 

 bronzy ; tail decidedly forked, without rufous or 

 white; feathers widening gradually from outside 

 to middle ; under parts whitish glossed with 

 green. Adult female : similar except on head and 

 tail ; crown green like back ; throat usually 

 specked with rose. Young : similar to adult female, but feathers of upper 

 parts edged with brown. Male : length 3.40-3.60, wing 1.90-2.00, tail 

 1.30-1.45, bill .65-.70. Female: length 3.80-4.15, wing 2.05, tail 1.30, 

 bill .75. 



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

 chilus alexandri or colubris. 



From Ridgway, Smithsonian. 

 Fig. 311. 



