How long do Costa's hummingbirds live?
The oldest Costa's Hummingbird on record lived to 6 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild Costa's hummingbirds live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 6 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Eggs per clutch
- 2 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Size
- 3–3.5 in, 0.1 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 6 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Costa's Hummingbird can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
How Costa's hummingbirds compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other hummingbirds on this site.
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird14 years
- Black-chinned Hummingbird11.2 years
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird9.1 years
- Rufous Hummingbird8.9 years
- Anna's Hummingbird8.5 years
More about Costa's hummingbirds
Frequently asked
How long do Costa's hummingbirds live?
The longest-lived Costa's Hummingbird on record reached 6 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild Costa's hummingbirds live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
What is the oldest Costa's Hummingbird ever recorded?
6 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Costa's Hummingbird raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2 eggs and raise 1–2 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info