Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae) is a small hummingbird found along the Pacific coast of North America. Like all hummingbirds, Costa’s hummingbird has a very high metabolism and must consume a lot of energy in the form of nectar each day in order to survive.
Nectar
The primary food source for Costa’s hummingbird is nectar from flowers. Costa’s hummingbirds will eat nectar from a variety of different flowering plants and trees. Some of their favorite nectar sources include:
- Sages
- Fuchsias
- Penstemons
- Lilies
- Columbines
- Trumpet vines
- Salvias
Costa’s hummingbirds have a long, slender bill that is perfectly adapted for reaching into tubular flowers and drinking the nectar inside. Their long, specialized tongue allows them to lap up nectar at a rate of 13-17 times per second!
In one day, a Costa’s hummingbird may visit 1000 or more flowers in order to get enough nectar to meet its energy requirements. They prefer flowers with a higher sugar concentration in the nectar. Costa’s hummingbirds especially favor red tubular flowers, which they can see easily with their excellent color vision.
Small Insects and Spiders
While nectar is the main food source for Costa’s hummingbirds, they also need protein in their diet. Costa’s hummingbirds get this protein primarily by eating small insects and spiders. Some of the bugs they commonly feed on include:
- Mosquitoes
- Fruit flies
- Gnats
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Ants
- Caterpillars
Costa’s hummingbirds use two main techniques for catching insects. The first is hawking, where they fly out from a perch to catch an insect mid-air. The second technique is gleaning, where they pick crawling and flying insects directly from foliage and branches. Costa’s hummingbirds also occasionally eat small spiders they find in their webs.
Tree Sap
In addition to nectar and insects, Costa’s hummingbirds will occasionally supplement their diet with tree sap. They use their long bills to access sap wells created by sapsucker woodpeckers. The sap provides an additional source of energy and nutrients for the hummingbirds.
Backyard Feeders
Many people attract Costa’s hummingbirds to their backyards by setting up special feeders designed to provide artificial nectar. The feeders are filled with a simple solution of sugar water that the hummingbirds drink. Backyard feeders provide a supplemental food source but do not provide all the nutrients the hummingbirds need. They still must eat natural nectar and insects as well.
Water
Like all animals, Costa’s hummingbirds need water in their diet as well. They get most of the water they need from the nectar they drink, but they will also visit water sources such as bird baths, fountains, dripping hoses, and puddles to drink water when necessary.
Food Requirements
In order to meet their high metabolic demands, Costa’s hummingbirds need to consume a tremendous amount of food each day. Here are some of their daily dietary requirements:
- Nectar – Up to 8 times their body weight per day
- Insects – Hundreds per day
- Sugar water (from feeders) – 2-4 times their body weight per day
- Water – Several small sips per day
Because of their small size, food and energy needs are a constant daily struggle. Costa’s hummingbirds must feed frequently throughout the day, visiting hundreds or thousands of flowers daily, to consume enough calories to maintain their hyperactive lifestyle.
Adaptations for Feeding
Costa’s hummingbirds have several special adaptations that allow them to meet their extreme feeding requirements:
- Needle-like bill – Their long, slender, slightly downturned bill is adapted for reaching into flowers and accessing nectar.
- Tongue – Their tongue has forked tips that allow it to lap up nectar quickly and efficiently.
- Hovering ability – They can hover precisely in front of flowers while feeding on nectar.
- High metabolism – Their metabolism is extremely high, allowing them to convert calories into energy very rapidly.
- Excellent vision – They have amazing visual acuity to spot tiny flowers and insects.
- Maneuverability – Their small size and precise flight abilities allow them to gracefully access flowers and catch insects.
These special adaptations allow Costa’s hummingbirds to survive on their energy-rich but challenging diet.
Role as Pollinators
While feeding on nectar, Costa’s hummingbirds serve as important pollinators for many species of plants. As they move from flower to flower accessing nectar, pollen sticks to their heads and throats. When they visit the next flower, some of this pollen rubs off onto the stigma of the new plant, pollinating it. Plants that rely on hummingbirds for pollination often have red, tubular flowers perfectly suited to hummingbird bills and pollination needs.
By pollinating flowering plants, Costa’s hummingbirds support biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem. Their dietary needs create an intricate co-dependent relationship between the hummingbirds and the plants they feed on.
Times of Scarcity
During times when fewer flowers are in bloom, such as winter or dry seasons, food can become scarce for Costa’s hummingbirds. This scarcity leads to increased competition both within and between hummingbird species for limited nectar resources. During these times, Costa’s hummingbirds also become more reliant on backyard feeders to supplement their diet and get the energy they require.
Range and Habitat
The range and habitat of Costa’s hummingbird also influence their diet. Here is some information on where they live and the flowers, plants, and insects found in those environments:
- Range: Along the Pacific coast from southern British Columbia to Baja California.
- Habitats: Coastal scrub, chaparral, woodland edges, gardens.
- Common plants: Sages, bush monkeyflower, manzanitas, lupines.
- Common insects: Mosquitoes, gnats, moth larvae, flies, midges.
The plants and small insects native to these coastal habitats have coevolved alongside Costa’s hummingbirds, providing them with an abundant food source rich in nectar and protein.
Conclusion
In summary, Costa’s hummingbirds have a specialized diet consisting primarily of nectar from flowers, supplemented with protein from small insects and spiders. Their long bills and tongues allow them to access nectar, while their flying skills permit them to capture insects. They also occasionally drink from sap wells or artificial feeders. Costa’s hummingbirds have numerous adaptations to help them meet their extremely high metabolic demands. Their role as pollinators creates an interconnected relationship with plants. While feeding, Costa’s hummingbirds support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
