There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds in the world, and many of them have distinctive plumage that helps identify them. Hummingbirds are known for their iridescent throats that shine brightly in the sun. While most hummingbird throats are vibrant colors like red, blue, green or purple, some species have black throats. The most common hummingbird found in North America with a black throat is the Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a small hummingbird, measuring only about 3-3.5 inches in length. The adult male has a dark, metallic green back and crown, with a black face and throat. There is a thin white collar around the neck, and the underparts are grayish-white. The tail is dark green above with gray undertail feathers. The female Black-chinned Hummingbird is similar, but has a lighter throat with speckles rather than solid black. The juvenile appears more like an adult female, with a lighter throat with some dusky spotting.
Range and Habitat
The Black-chinned Hummingbird has the widest breeding distribution of any North American hummingbird. Its breeding range extends from southern British Columbia in Canada south throughout the western United States into Mexico. It is found along the Pacific Coast, throughout the Rocky Mountains, the southwest deserts, and into the southeastern states along the Gulf Coast. During winter months, most Black-chinned Hummingbirds migrate south to Mexico, though some may overwinter in the southernmost parts of their breeding range in California, Texas, and Florida.
This species inhabits a variety of semi-open habitats across its range, including mountain meadows, riparian woodlands, scrubland, deciduous and pine-oak forests, and desert oases. It is attracted to flowering plants and feeders in parks, yards, and gardens. The key habitat requirements seem to be sufficient nectar supplies and small trees or shrubs for nesting sites.
Identification
The Black-chinned Hummingbird can be identified by its small size, dark metallic green back, and all-black face and throat in the adult male. The black throat distinguishes it from other small hummingbirds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird which has a vivid red throat, or the similar-looking Costa’s Hummingbird which has a purple throat bordered by white. The female and juvenile Black-chinned have lighter throats sprinkled with dark spots or streaks.
In flight, the relatively short, straight bill and rounded tail with white tips are characteristic. In habits the Black-chinned is aggressive, and will actively defend nectar sources and feeders. The male has a particularly distinctive display, climbing high then diving down quickly while making a loud, scratchy buzzing sound with its tail feathers. This display advertises and defends its territory.
Diet
Like all hummingbirds, the Black-chinned Hummingbird has a specialized diet consisting mainly of nectar, tree sap, and small insects and spiders. It uses its long, extendable tongue to lap up nectar while hovering in front of flowers. It also hawk insects from the air or gleans them from foliage and bark.
Some favorite nectar sources include the flowers of sages, fuchsias, penstemons, and bee balm. The sap wells created by sapsuckers are also an important food source in some forested areas of its range. Insects including mosquitoes, gnats, aphids, caterpillars and spiders provide essential proteins and fats. At commercial nectar feeders, the Black-chinned readily feeds on sucrose solutions made to mimic flower nectar.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season for Black-chinned Hummingbirds runs from March through August, varying somewhat across their range. The males arrive in the breeding areas a few weeks before the females to establish territories. When the females arrive, courtship begins. The male performs a display flight over its territory, flying in wide loops up to 130 feet in the air before diving down past the female at high speeds with a loud buzzing trill, produced by vibrating his tail feathers.
Once paired, the female builds the nest on her own in a protected location in a shrub, pine tree or other small tree. She constructs a small cup of soft plant down and spider web, camouflaging it with bits of lichen and moss on the exterior. The eggs are pea-sized, white and laid two at a time, with incubation lasting 16-18 days. The female cares for the young birds alone, feeding them regurgitated nectar and insects. The young leave the nest about 20-22 days after hatching.
Migration
The Black-chinned Hummingbird migrates through the western states from late February through May as it heads north to its breeding grounds, and again from July through October when birds move south to wintering grounds in Mexico. They often stop to rest and refuel at productive nectar sources along migration routes.
Some northbound migration hotspots include southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, where stands of flowers like red trumpet vine provide reliable nectar supplies in spring. Southbound migration timing coincides with blooms of agaves, sagebrush, and their favorite nectar source, scarlet gilia. The Ruby Mountains in Nevada are a fantastic place to spot migrating Black-chinned Hummingbirds.
Conservation Status
With a large breeding range and expanding population, the Black-chinned Hummingbird is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Partners in Flight estimates a breeding population of about 11 million and gives this species a low regional vulnerability score of 5 out of 20. Numbers have increased by an estimated 22% over the past 50 years, likely due to habitat modification and artificial feeders providing new food sources for breeding, migrating and wintering birds.
Fun Facts
- The Black-chinned Hummingbird is named for the adult male’s dark, black chin and throat, unique among North American hummers.
- To conserve energy overnight, Black-chinned Hummingbirds go into a hibernation-like state called torpor where their metabolic rate slows and body temperature drops significantly.
- Their short straight bill is adapted to access nectar from certain flowers, like penstemons and sages with short corollas.
- Black-chinned Hummingbird eggs are the smallest known bird eggs, measuring only 0.5 inches long but accounting for 2-4% of the mother’s weight.
- Young Black-chinned Hummingbirds may lose up to 10% of their weight overnight before they leave the nest.
Comparison to Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most common and familiar backyard hummingbird of eastern North America. Ruby-throats are slightly larger than Black-chinned Hummingbirds, about 3.5 inches long and with a wingspan around 4 inches. Male Ruby-throated live up to their name with an iridescent ruby red throat patch. Females lack any red at all. Their back is metallic green like the Black-chinned Hummingbird.
In flight profile, the Ruby-throat’s bill looks longer and more downcurved. The tail is forked in the Ruby-throat, not rounded with white tips like the Black-chinned’s tail. Ruby-throats also lack the bold white collar around the neck that Black-chinneds display. Ruby-throats have a much more subtle white line along the throat border.
Ruby-throats breed across eastern North America and winter in coastal Mexico and Central America. Though Ruby-throats visit feeders more readily, their displays are less aggressive than the scrappy Black-chinned Hummingbird. Hybrids between Black-chinned and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds may occur in narrow overlap zones in western Texas.
Plumage Differences
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|
| Dark metallic green back | Metallic green back |
| Black face and throat (male) | White face, ruby red throat (male) |
| White collar around neck | No white collar |
Behavioral Differences
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|
| Aggressive displays | Less aggressive |
| Loud buzzing dive display | Pendulum display |
| Defends feeding territories | Somewhat territorial |
Conclusion
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a small, common hummingbird of the western United States with a dark metallic green back and a distinctive black face and throat in males. Females have a light throat with dark speckles. This species breeds across the west and migrates as far south as Mexico for the winter. Though small, they are feisty and competitive at feeders. To identify a Black-chinned Hummingbird, look for the black chin and throat with white collar in males, rounded tail with white tips, and aggressive behavior. Compare it to the familiar Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the east, which had a red throat in males, forked tail, and less aggressiveness around feeders. The Black-chinned Hummingbird’s adaptability has allowed it to thrive in a variety of habitats modified by humans across its large range.
