What iridescent color describes the spectacularly large gorget of the adult male Costa's Hummingbird?
Answer
Deep purple or magenta
The adult male Costa's Hummingbird is known for its remarkably showy throat patch, or gorget. This patch displays spectacular iridescence, primarily manifesting as deep purple or magenta hues. This vivid coloration, combined with the characteristic side flares that give it a fan-like appearance, makes the male readily identifiable when the light conditions allow the feathers to reflect properly. This bright, expansive coloration stands in stark contrast to the more restricted, structured color pattern seen on the male Black-chinned.
Related Questions
What shape distinguishes the adult male Costa's Hummingbird gorget display?What feature characterizes the Black-chinned Hummingbird male gorget?What field mark is reliable for identifying the female Black-chinned Hummingbird tail?How does the flank wash color typically differ between female Costa's and Black-chinned Hummingbirds?Which species possesses a notably longer bill relative to its body size?What specific habitat is the Costa's Hummingbird strongly associated with in the American Southwest?In which setting is the Black-chinned Hummingbird frequently found during the breeding season?What iridescent color describes the spectacularly large gorget of the adult male Costa's Hummingbird?How does the overall physical profile of the Costa's Hummingbird compare to the Black-chinned Hummingbird?According to identification difficulty, which group presents the greatest hurdle for birders distinguishing between the two species?When adult males are not displaying and females are foraging quietly, what identification method becomes paramount?