The Costa Hummer 
Of the occurrence of this bird in the desert ranges, Dr. A. K. Fisher 
says: 1 “Costa’s Fiummingbird is the common species of the desert 
valleys and moun¬ 
tains of southern 
California and 
Nevada * * * the 
only species met 
with by Dr. Nelson 
in the Panamint 
and Grapevine 
Mountains, where 
he found it a com¬ 
mon breeder during 
May and June. * 
* * In the Argus 
Range the species 
was very abundant 
and several of its 
nests were found. 
Various kinds of 
plants were used as 
nesting sites, 
though the branch¬ 
ing cactus (Opuntia 
echinocarpa ) was 
most commonly 
chosen. Usually 
the structure was 
placed on the top 
of a lower branch, 
a foot or so from 
the ground, and 
under an overhang¬ 
ing mass of thick 
spiny branches, 
which formed a pro- 
tection for the 
parent bird from 
the sun and 
weather, as well as its enemies. At Coso one of these hummers was 
seen on a bright moonlight evening hovering over a bunch of flowers 
Taken in the Mohave Desert 
Photo by Wright M. Pierce 
COSTA HUMMER AND NEST IN Opuntia ramosissima 
1 Ornithology of the Death Valley Expedition, N. A. Fauna, No. 7, 1893, p. 57. 
■ 1 0 . 1— i » W Cf ‘ 
