Costa's and Honeysuckle
by Robert Bales
Title
Costa's and Honeysuckle
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
The usual hummingbird food nourishes this species; probably it consists mainly of small Diptera, Hymenoptera, and other minute insects, sweetened with nectar or honey from various flowers; the amount of the latter is difficult to determine, as it is not easily detected in the stomach, where it is so soon digested. As to the flowers from which the food is obtained, Bendire (1895) says that in Inyo County, California, Costa's Hummer seems to be very commonly found about the flowers of the squaw cabbage, a species of Stanieya, also about xvild rose, plum, or berry bushes (Prunus) growing in the canyons, as well as about other shrubs and plants found in these desert regions., Mr. Woods (1927b) says: "During the nesting season it has seemed to me that the female Costa's Hummingbird visits the flowers much less than does the male. At such times the female may often be seen buzzing about inside non-flowering trees and shrubs. While the search may be primarily for cobwebs or other nesting material, numerous minute insects and spiders might incidentally be obtained. * * * Costa's Hummingbird, for some reason, seems less partial to the Tree Tobacco than do the larger species."
Uploaded
December 4th, 2012
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Viewed 685 Times - Last Visitor from Turtle Creek, PA on 03/27/2024 at 6:48 AM
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Comments (9)
William Tasker
Gorgeous scene and shot, Robert! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World. L/F
Seaux-N-Seau Soileau
Beautiful image!! Thanks for information on these beautiful flowers!!
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Seaux for the very nice comment and you are very welcome about the information!!