Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
The red flowers of Ocotillo are an important resource for Costa's. Likelwise the Ocotillo relies on Hummingbirds for pollination. This is an example of mutualism.
The brilliance of the male Costa's Hummingbird head and gorget will vary tremendously depending on the orientation of the light relative to the observer. The throats of females are white with nary a fleck of purple. These tiny birds (9 cm) usually migrate south during the winter months, Nov through Jan-Feb. Canyons and mountains where ocotillo and chuparosa are abundant are favorite nesting spots for Costa's Hummingbirds.