Mar., 1921 TWO CHARACTERISTIC BIRDS OF THE SAN GABRIEL WASH 49 
The Costa Hummingbird (Calypte costae) shown herewith, has returned to 
the same location at Azusa for the last three years at least, arriving the latter 
part of March and leaving early in June. The presence of the Costa Humming- 
bird may be recognized by its prolonged shrill whistling note, usually uttered 
while swooping through the air, but sometimes also while at rest. It has no 
song such as that of the Anna Hummingbird. 
The Costa Hummingbird feeds from both wild and cultivated flowers and 
from orange blossoms. This occupies little of its time, most of which is spent 
on certain favorite perches from which a comprehensive view may be obtained. 
I 
Fig. 12. ANOTHER POSE OF BIRD 
Fig. 11. ApULT MALE COSTA HUMMINGBIRD; SHOWN IN FIGURE 11. 
SAN GABRIEL WASH, NEAR AZUSA, CALL 
FORNIA; APRIL, 1920. 
It shows no special hostility to birds of other sorts, though occasionally diving 
at them from high in the air, to which maneuver, however, the other birds gen- 
erally pay no particular attention. The female usually stays inside the bushes, 
where it is often seen hovering among the leaves as if seeking food. 
Considerable variation is noticed in the color of the gorget of the same in- 
dividual male, this sometimes appearing bluish violet and at other times ma- 
genta. The nest has not been found, as the movements of the birds I watched 
gave no clue to its location. 
Los Angeles, California, September 28, 1920. 
