Thursday, October 12, 2017 Costa’s Hummingbird!

Homer, Alaska

Sunrise 8:39 am, sunset 7:07 pm for a total day length of 10 hours and 28 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 17 seconds shorter.

I finally could no longer resist the tantalizing and shrinking chance of seeing a COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Alaska. Who knows when another opportunity might arise? Who knows how much longer the tiny hummer will stay? I made arrangements and drove to Homer.

Light rain began as I arrived at the site: the sky was gray, and the light dim. I stood quietly, waiting and listening. The adjacent feeders and shrubs attracted several vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and chipper BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. PINE GROSBEAKS called from spruce tops. A BALD EAGLE stroked past. Also spotted a GRAY JAY and SPRUCE GROUSE male.

After about 20 minutes, suddenly and silently, the Costa’s appeared at the feeder. He got right to work and sipped steadily, pausing now and then to glance around. From the side, his gorget appeared black, with little “wings” extending on each side like the Anna’s. (Both species are in the genus Calypte.) His tail seemed stubby compared to the Rufous and Anna’s. His wingtips extended slightly beyond the tail.

After about 5 minutes, he abruptly departed, but flew into a nearby willow shrub and perched on a bare branch. The homeowner said that is one of his favorite perches. I heard him calling in a very subdued, light, high, chip. I maneuvered around the willow to get a better view of his front. He didn’t seem to mind.

Sibley describes him as “small and dumpy; short-tailed and round-headed with short, thick neck.” Humph! He was extremely cute with bright, black eyes, a green back, white belly with some greenish feathers, almost invisible black feet, a rosy, iridescent forehead, green crown, and a spectacular violet gorget. I only caught flashes of the violet, but felt lucky for any color at all on this gray day.

He sat there for several minutes, shaking off the raindrops, looking all around, flicking out his tongue now and then. He was alert, but unafraid. Then he zipped back to the feeder for another snack, and came back to his perch.

Sibley notes this species is 3.5” long with a wingspan of 4.75” and weighs 0.11 oz (3.1 grams) compared to the much larger Anna’s at 4” long, 5.25” wingspan and weight of 0.15 oz (4.3 grams). Such a tiny toughie!

National Geographic notes the Costa’s is fairly common in desert washes and dry chaparral in its southern California and Arizona breeding range; its year-round range is in Baja Mexico; its winter range is coastal Mexico.

Also noted is “casual north to south-coastal Alaska and west to Texas.” Not noted is WHEN; fall extending into mid-October and later (previous Anchorage Costa’s) was probably not what the authors had in mind.

Here’s a link to the November 2015 Anchorage female Costa’s:

https://www.adn.com/wildlife/slideshow/photos-costas-hummingbird-visits-anchorage/2015/11/04/

The little guy finally blasted off, tearing around the side of the house, and disappeared. I too, departed, absolutely delighted to have met this little heart-throb. Life Bird!

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter

Thanks to Bob Winckler for correcting the gender on the Spruce Grouse!