Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costae

A gem of the Sonoran Desert, the male Costa's Hummingbird flashes an iridescent purple crown and gorget with long flared feathers that extend like a violet mustache. Found in arid scrublands of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, it times its breeding to winter wildflower blooms. Males perform dramatic U-shaped dive displays while singing a thin whistle.