Mystery Bird: Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae

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[Mystery bird] Costa's Hummingbird, Calypte costae, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Richard Ditch, 23 December 2004 [larger view].

Date Time Original: 2004:12:23 16:04:23
Exposure Time: 1/60
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 640

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Male Costa's Hummingbird?

It's the only purple-ish hummingbird in my book with purple above the beak in front, and the picture in my book looks light colored on the breast, too.

At any rate, the shape looks hummingbird-ish to me, though the angle makes the beak seem a little shorter than I'd expect.

This is a stunningly beautiful photo!

Male Costa's Hummingbird. The purple hood and gorget are unique to this species. Only possible confusion in appearence and range is male Anna's Hummingbird and that has a magenta hood and gorget, with a less "pointed" gorget.

By Selasphorus (not verified) on 14 Feb 2009 #permalink

Costa's Hummingbird (adult male) - purple crown and throat, as well as the white eyebrow. Photo also taken in area known for Costa's.

"gorget" is a good word

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 14 Feb 2009 #permalink

I must say I half thought it was a plastic toy! (Not a lot of hummingbirds in Gloucestershire.)