Black-chinned Hummingbird: Photos, Identification, Range, and Habits
The black-chinned hummingbird is a tiny, slender bird with a dark chin and a purple stripe on the males’ throats. You’ll mostly see them in the western United States and parts of Canada. They show up in gardens, woodlands, and backyards when the weather warms up. Black-chinned hummingbirds dart around, hover in place, and love feeding on flower nectar and tiny insects.
You can spot them by their metallic green feathers on top and pale bellies underneath. Males stand out with their black throat and a purple stripe that flashes in the sun, while females look plainer. Their courtship dances and zippy feeding style make them pretty fun to watch.
These hummingbirds spend summers up north, then head south to Mexico for winter.
Black-chinned Hummingbird Photos by Fawkes Focus
Key Takeaways
- Black-chinned hummingbirds are tiny, fast, and easy to spot by their color and behavior.
- They migrate every year and are common in western North America during summer.
- Their numbers stay steady, and they’re often seen at flower gardens and feeders.
Identification and Physical Description
Black-chinned hummingbirds are small, with features that help you tell them apart from other hummingbirds. Males and females look different, and they have markings that make them stand out. You can compare them to the more common ruby-throated hummingbird if you’re not sure.
Male and Female Differences
Males have a glossy black throat with a purple band along the bottom. That purple can be tough to see unless the sunlight hits it just right.
Females don’t have the black chin or purple throat. Their underparts are pale or white, and their throats are usually spotted or streaked. Both sexes have metallic green on their backs and heads, but females can seem a bit duller.
Females have a white tip on their tail feathers, while males have a darker tail with little or no white. Young birds look like females but might have a faint dark patch on their throat.
Distinctive Markings
Here’s what helps them stand out:
- Size: About 3–3.5 inches (7.5–9 cm) long
- Chin and Throat: Males have a black chin and a purple band at the bottom of the throat
- Back and Crown: Both have a metallic green back and crown
- Tail: Males have a darker tail, females show more white
You’ll also notice a white spot behind the eye. Their thin, slightly curved beak works great for sipping from flowers. The purple throat on males only shows in the right light.
Comparison to Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Black-chinned and ruby-throated hummingbirds look a lot alike, but there are differences. Ruby-throated males have a bright red throat, while black-chinned males show a purple edge on a black throat.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds don’t have as much white on their tail tips as black-chinned females do. Both have green backs, but the black chin and throat color make Archilochus alexandri unique.
They also live in different areas – black-chinned hummingbirds stick to western North America, and ruby-throated ones are mostly in the east. If you’re trying to tell them apart, look at their throat color, tail, and back.
Distribution and Habitat
Black-chinned hummingbirds are common in much of western North America, living in all sorts of places. Texas, Arizona, and southern British Columbia are big for their breeding and migration.
Breeding and Year-round Range
During breeding season, you’ll find black-chinned hummingbirds from southern British Columbia down through the western U.S. and into northern Mexico. Texas, especially central and western parts, has a lot of them. Their range goes east to Oklahoma and along the Gulf Coast, but they don’t go much farther east.
Most fly south to Mexico for winter, and only a few stay year-round in the U.S. In spring, they come back north, usually reaching Texas from mid-March to early May, and leave by mid-October. Black-chinned and ruby-throated hummingbirds overlap mostly in central Texas, but not by much. You can see their range maps at Texas Breeding Bird Atlas and Audubon.
Preferred Habitats
They use lots of habitats but seem to like open woodlands, river valleys, and semi-arid areas. In Texas, they nest in everything from dry agave-cactus desert to mixed juniper and live oak woods. In Arizona, you’ll spot them in Sonoran Desert woodlands and along streams with cottonwoods or willows.
They live at different elevations, from lowlands up to foothills. Riparian zones and pinyon-juniper woods are important, especially for nesting. If you want more about their habitat choices, ornithology guides have a ton of details.
Urban vs. Natural Environments
Black-chinned hummingbirds get along well in both suburban and urban places. You’ll see them in gardens and yards with flowers and feeders. In cities like Austin or Tucson, they show up in parks and neighborhoods.
In wild areas, they depend on native flowers, shrubs, and trees for nesting and food. Their knack for living in both cities and wild spots keeps their numbers steady out west.
Here’s a quick habitat comparison:
| Environment | Main Features | Example Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Urban/Suburban | Gardens, feeders, landscaping | Austin, Tucson |
| Natural Woodlands | Oak, juniper, riparian vegetation | Edwards Plateau, Arizona |
| Desert | Agave, cactus, open shrubland | West Texas, Sonora |
Migration Patterns
Black-chinned hummingbirds travel far between where they breed and where they spend winter. They cross lots of landscapes and deal with natural barriers on the way.
Seasonal Movements
These hummingbirds breed in the western U.S. – places like Texas, Arizona, and up to southern British Columbia in Canada. In spring, they show up in their breeding spots when flowers are blooming and bugs are everywhere. Males usually arrive a few weeks before females to claim their territory.
Migration starts as early as late February in the south and peaks in April and May farther north. After breeding, they head south again in August and September. A lot of them stop at backyard feeders and gardens for food along the way. Their movements get tracked with migration maps and birdwatcher sightings. You can see their migration routes online.
Wintering Grounds
After breeding, black-chinned hummingbirds fly to their winter homes. Most spend winter in western Mexico and along the Gulf Coast. Some stick around southern Texas and Arizona if the winter’s mild and there’s enough food.
These places have lots of flowers and warmer weather. You might see black-chinned hummingbirds along river valleys, in low forests, or even in gardens during winter. Most leave their breeding spots by late September and stay in winter areas until spring. For more, check out this migration guide.
Migration Challenges
Black-chinned hummingbirds face some tough stuff while migrating. Bad weather, like late storms or drought, can wipe out food along their route. Strong winds or cold snaps slow them down and force them to find shelter.
They cross open areas, like Arizona deserts or the Gulf Coast, where food and cover are hard to find. Losing habitat from development or farming can take away the spots they need for a break and a meal. Window strikes and predators are other problems. If you’re interested, reporting migration sightings helps scientists figure out how these challenges affect their trip each year.
Diet and Feeding Behavior
Black-chinned hummingbirds need nectar and tiny insects to stay healthy. They use clever foraging tricks and change how they feed depending on what’s around.
Natural Food Sources
Most of the time, black-chinned hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers. Their long, thin bills and tongues let them reach deep inside tube-shaped blooms. Favorites include Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), Scarlet Larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), and Desert Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens).
Nectar gives them a quick energy boost, but it’s not enough. They also eat tiny insects and spiders for protein, which is super important when they’re raising chicks. They grab bugs out of the air, pick them off plants, or sometimes even steal them from spider webs.
Switching between nectar and insects keeps them going all day. It also helps them survive in lots of different places. You can read more about their diet and favorite nectar plants.
Feeding at Hummingbird Feeders
Black-chinned hummingbirds love hummingbird feeders in yards and gardens. Feeders are filled with sugar-water, which is a lot like real nectar. They’re a big draw, especially when flowers aren’t blooming or food is hard to find.
At feeders, they’ll hover while they drink, or perch if there’s a spot for it. Usually, one bird feeds at a time, but if there’s plenty of food, you might see a few at once. It’s important to keep feeders clean – dirty ones can make hummingbirds sick.
Feeders give these birds a safe, steady food source, especially during migration when wildflowers might be scarce. There’s more info at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s guide.
Foraging Techniques
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are quick, agile flyers. Their wings beat fast – over 50 times a second – so they can hover while sipping nectar from flowers or feeders.
To catch insects, they use a couple of tricks:
- Hawking: They dart out from a perch and snatch bugs in mid-air.
- Gleaning: They hover near leaves or branches and grab insects right off the surface.
Sometimes they even steal tiny bugs caught in spider webs. During courtship, males might grab a snack while showing off with their fancy flying. Their sharp eyes and quick moves help them spot and catch prey. Check out their feeding and foraging behaviors to see how they manage in the wild.
Breeding and Nesting
Black-chinned hummingbirds are pretty flexible about where they nest. They’re clever builders too – take a look at these nesting sites and their unique nest construction. Their breeding behaviors help them stick around in all sorts of places across the western U.S.
Nesting Sites and Materials
These hummingbirds usually build nests in the fork or on a branch, about 3 to 10 feet above ground. They like deciduous trees and sometimes pick spots above creeks for extra safety.
Their nests look like tiny deep cups, mostly made from soft plant fuzz. Spider webs and cocoon fibers hold everything together, letting the nest stretch as chicks get bigger. They often decorate the outside with lichen, bud scales, or bark – whatever’s close by. You’ll find their nests in both backyards and wild areas, which shows how well they fit in almost anywhere. For more about their nests, check out this nesting guide.
Eggs and Incubation
A female black-chinned hummingbird usually lays two tiny white eggs. She sits on them for about 12 to 16 days, only leaving for quick feeding trips.
The eggs are about jellybean-sized. The camouflaged nest hides them from predators and shields them from bad weather. Egg-laying happens in spring or early summer, but sometimes it depends on the weather and food. Timing can change year to year.
Care of Young
After the eggs hatch, the female feeds the chicks by bringing up a mix of nectar and insects. For the first weeks, the chicks count on her for food and warmth.
Chicks grow fast and leave the nest – called fledging – in about three weeks. The mother keeps feeding and protecting them for a little while after they fledge. Raising young in cities or wild places helps keep black-chinned hummingbird numbers strong. For more about their life cycle, see this overview.
Conservation and Population Trends
You’ll find black-chinned hummingbirds all over the western U.S. and in southern British Columbia. Their numbers go up and down in different places, and they face some tough challenges from changing habitats and other problems.
Population Status
Black-chinned hummingbirds are common in places like Texas and southern British Columbia. They migrate between the western U.S. and Mexico, using lots of different habitats – riparian woodlands, open spaces, and more.
Data over the years say their numbers are stable or even a little up in most areas, with no big danger signs right now. Some research shows a few spots with moderate declines, but that’s not everywhere. For example, from 2009 to 2019, they mostly held steady, though a few declines showed up in certain regions. It’s important to keep an eye on things just in case. You can see more on population trends from scientific studies and conservation reports.
Threats and Conservation Efforts
Main threats to black-chinned hummingbirds include:
- Habitat loss, like clearing river woods for farms or new buildings
- Climate change, which messes with flower blooming and food
- Human disturbance, such as pesticides and land use changes
In Texas and elsewhere, lots of these hummingbirds rely on healthy rivers and creeks. Conservation groups push to protect these spots. The black-chinned hummingbird isn’t listed as threatened right now, but Audubon and others keep watch and work to save habitats. People can help too – planting native flowers and skipping pesticides makes a real difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are small, busy birds you’ll see across much of the western U.S. and northern Mexico. Their markings, size, range, migration, and how they stack up against other hummingbirds help birders tell them apart.
What distinguishing features help to identify a male versus a female Black-chinned Hummingbird?
Males have a deep black chin that looks almost velvety. In the right light, you’ll spot a thin, shiny purple strip on the throat. Females don’t have that purple band. Their undersides are whitish, maybe with faint streaks, and their throats are pale with hardly any dark color.
What is the typical size of a Black-chinned Hummingbird?
They’re tiny – about 3.5 inches long, with a wingspan around 4.3 inches. Their small, sleek shape lets them hover easily while feeding.
What are the key migration patterns of the Black-chinned Hummingbird?
Most leave the U.S. in late summer and head south for winter, mainly to Mexico and sometimes farther. A few might stick around the Gulf Coast, but most are gone from the western U.S. when it gets cold. They travel alone or in small groups, chasing flowers and warm weather.
Where can one typically find the Black-chinned Hummingbird’s range?
You’ll find them mostly in the western U.S. and northern Mexico – places like Texas, Arizona, and California. In summer, they reach as far north as southern British Columbia. They like open woods, gardens, and spots near water with lots of flowers. For more, check All About Birds.
Can you describe the specific characteristics of Black-chinned Hummingbirds?
They’ve got bright green backs and pale or white bellies. Their bills are long, thin, and curve just a bit – perfect for flowers. Males show a narrow purple band under the black chin, but you’ll only catch it in good light. Females are plainer, missing those flashy colors.
How can you differentiate between a Black-chinned Hummingbird and other black hummingbirds?
Look for the black chin and that skinny purple throat band on the males – those are pretty telling. They’re small, with green backs and white bellies. Honestly, Black-chinned Hummingbirds don’t show off as much color as most western hummingbirds. Females often have little or no color on their throats, which makes them stand out. Where you spot them matters, too; their habitat and range can help you figure it out. Want more tips? Check out The Birdscape.
