Range

Common in desert washes and dry chaparral of the Southwestern U.S. Breeding grounds include the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of California and Arizona, and northwest Mexico. During hot summer days, it moves to chaparral, scrub, or woodland habitat. Considered extremely rare in Texas.

The hummingbird is named after French nobleman Louis Marie Pantaleon Costa, Marquis de Beauregard.

Characteristics and Identification

Male has a deep violet head and gorget extending far down the sides of the neck. Female has white throat and underparts, sometimes with some violet feathers.

The Costa's has some similarities in coloration with the Lucifer and Black-chinned hummingbirds (see comparison photo below).