Costa’s Hummingbird

This male Costa’s Hummingbird was working the blooming desert flowers at Boyce Thompson Arboretum this week.

Costa’s Hummingbird

Costa’s Hummingbirds migrate through central Arizona but move on for the summer. Boyce Thompson Arboretum has blooming aloe stalks, penstemons and salvias now, and this Costa’s Hummingbird had many choices of flowers. He stayed around the Arboretum’s Demonstration Garden courtyard for several hours during mid afternoon. When the Costa’s Hummingbird did disappear, he soon returned. He is small and busy, but he made it relatively easy to find and see him, given a little time and binoculars.

There is also a hummingbird feeder in the Palo Verde tree at the edge of the courtyard. A few male Anna’s Hummingbirds were battling over that feeder, while several Anna’s females came and went. We did see the Costa’s Hummingbird use the feeder briefly, but he was mostly feeding from the many, many flowers in the immediate area.

There is plenty of hummingbird action down the path to the Hummingbird Garden and even among the plants set out for sale to visitors at the entrance.

It seems to be an early but gorgeous spring at the Arboretum. Red, pink, yellow, and purple flowers are in bloom, and birds and butterflies are busy working them.

Thanks to Arboretum staff for help and good information. Check out their website for many Spring activities. (Note: If you head out on a Saturday or Sunday this March, plan around the Renaissance Faire traffic.)