In his recent book, Steven Johnson coins the term “Hummingbird Effect” to make the point that innovation in one realm can trigger unpredictable and unexpected advancement in others. To some degree, these landscape features may help individual birds survive habitat loss in the surrounding areas. Planted for erosion control and to feed cattle, this aggressive plant outcompetes the native flora needed by the birds.Ĭosta's Hummingbirds will visit hummingbird feeders and backyards with desert-friendly landscaping that includes native flowers.
#RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD PREDATORS PATCH#
The male Rufous, glowing like new copper penny, often defends a patch of flowers in a mountain meadow, vigorously chasing away all intruders (including larger birds). Introduction of non-native buffelgrass, or African foxtail grass, is another problem. Selasphorus rufus Although it is one of the smaller members in a family of very small birds, this species is notably pugnacious. Urbanization, agriculture, and competition from Anna's Hummingbird are edging Costa's from some of its former habitat, especially coastal areas and desert scrub.Ĭosta's Hummingbird, Arizona.
Sign up for ABC's eNews to learn how you can help protect birdsĪlthough the species' population is currently stable, loss of habitat may become a problem for Costa's Hummingbird, as it is for other hummingbirds like the rare Marvelous Spatuletail and Esmeraldas Woodstar. In the case of Costa's Hummingbird, this can mean reducing the heart rate from a normal daytime rate of 500-900 beats per minute down to 50. To survive cold temperatures, the birds can enter a state of torpor, lowering internal thermostats to reduce body temperature and slow heart rate. Hummingbirds have high energy needs and unlike most other birds, lack insulating down feathers. But unlike Rufous and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Costa's are short-distance migrants, moving only as far south as northern Mexico in winter. They wander if resources become scarce or temperatures climb too high. The birds migrate and nest in February or March, when desert flowers are most abundant and heat has not yet peaked. Found in hot, dry habitats like the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the species is an important pollinator of desert plants and cacti, particularly red penstemon. Tiny Costa's Hummingbird-named for early hummingbird collector Louis Costa-reaches its maximum size at 3.5 inches, making it one of the smallest U.S.
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