Quick Answers
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a small, fast-moving bird found in western North America. Here are some quick facts about identifying them:
– Size: They are 3.5-4 inches long with a wingspan of 4.3-4.7 inches, making them one of the smaller hummingbird species.
– Bill: The bill is small, straight and black.
– Color: The male has a dark, shiny green back and crown with a purple throat patch (aka gorget). The female is pale below with greenish sides and white tips on the tail feathers.
– Behavior: Aggressive and territorial; males make display dives during courtship. They have speedy, darting flight patterns.
– Habitat: Found in semi-open areas like mountain meadows, foothills, canyons and gardens. Prefers habitat with flowering plants and small trees.
– Range: Breeds in western North America and migrates south to Mexico for winter. Common summer resident in Rocky Mountains, southwest deserts and west coast.
– Voice: Sharp, high-pitched descending trills and chips.
Detailed Identification
The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is a small hummingbird species found along the western coast of North America. They can be identified by the following key features:
Size and Shape
– Length: 3.5-4 inches long
– Wingspan: 4.3-4.7 inches wide
– Small and compact, with a short bill and rounded head
– Very short legs and feet that are not visible when perched
The Black-chinned Hummingbird has a similar petite size and shape as other small hummingbirds like the Ruby-throated and Anna’s Hummingbird. They are among the smallest hummingbird species in North America. Their compact body and short wings allow them to hover and fly swiftly between flowers.
Plumage
Males:
– Crown and back: Dark metallic green
– Throat: Deep iridescent purple, appearing black in poor light (aka the gorget)
– Belly and sides: White
– Tail: Dark with white tips on outer tail feathers
Females:
– Back: Dark green
– Underparts: Pale gray-white with greenish sides
– Tail: Dark green with white outer tips
The male’s brilliant purple gorget distinguishes them from other western hummingbirds when seen up close. The female lacks the iridescent throat and is more nondescript, though the white-tipped tail helps identify the species.
Bill and Legs
– Bill: Very small, thin and straight; black in color
– Legs and feet: Small with grey-black feet; not visible when perched
The Black-chinned Hummingbird’s bill is an important identification feature. It is small and slim compared to other hummingbirds. Their tiny legs and feet are not apparent when they are sitting on a perch.
Behavior and Flight Pattern
– Aggressive and territorial; will chase away other hummingbirds
– Males make elaborate dive displays during courtship
– Quick, darting flight patterns with rapid wingbeats
– Can hover in place and fly backwards
– Visits nectar-rich tubular flowers and small trees
– Also eats insects for protein
The Black-chinned male is fiercely protective of feeding territories. They chase intruders while making chatter-like sounds. Courtship displays involve flying in loop patterns and then diving across the female at high speeds. Their flight is very swift and agile, allowing them to access nectar while hovering.
Voice and Sounds
The vocalizations of the Black-chinned Hummingbird include:
– High-pitched descending trills used in courtship displays
– Short chips emitted during aggressive chases of other males
– Rapid twittering or squeaking notes at feeders when competing for nectar access
– Shrill alarm calls in response to predators
The male’s display trills help identify the species by ear. Their other chip and squeak sounds are also very high-pitched like other tiny hummingbirds.
Range and Habitat
The breeding habitat of the Black-chinned Hummingbird extends across the western United States and up into British Columbia in Canada. Their breeding range includes:
– Western coastal states from California to Washington
– Inland through Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana
– Mountain regions like the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada range
They are a summer resident in these areas, arriving in spring to breed and departing in late summer to wintering grounds in Mexico. Some key habitats used during summer include:
– Mountain meadows and foothills
– Canyon bottoms and streambanks
– Open woodlands, scrublands, and chaparral
– Backyards and gardens with flowering plants
On their wintering grounds in Mexico, they inhabit forests, plantations and scrublands at middle elevations.
Similar Species Comparison
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is most often confused with these other small western hummingbirds:
– **Ruby-throated Hummingbird** – The male Ruby-throated has an iridescent ruby red throat, not purple. Female Ruby-throated has uniform light underparts without green along the sides.
– **Anna’s Hummingbird** – The male Anna’s has a bright rose-pink throat and crown. Females have green backs and light grey underparts with rose-pink patches on throat/face. Their tail is rounded, not forked like Black-chinned.
– **Costa’s Hummingbird** – The male Costa’s has an iridescent violet crown and throat. Female is similar to female Black-chinned but has heavier streaking on the underside and a shorter tail.
– **Rufous Hummingbird** – Breeds more north and migrates earlier than Black-chinned. The male Rufous has a distinct rufous color on its back, rump and tail. The female is rainforest green on its back.
Interesting Facts
Here are some intriguing facts about the Black-chinned Hummingbird:
– The purple gorget of males contains color-producing structures in the feathers that reflect light. Depending on viewing angle, it can appear black, purple, blue or grey.
– Males establish breeding and nesting territories as early as April and aggressively defend them from other males.
– Courtship displays involve flying in fast, looping patterns up to 100 feet in the air before diving past the female at speeds up to 60 mph.
– They build tiny cup-shaped nests out of plant down, spider silk and bud scales, bound with webbing. Nests are only 1.5 inches wide and typically placed on a tree branch.
– Females lay 2 tiny white eggs and incubate them for 12-16 days. The chicks fledge in another 18-22 days.
– A Black-chinned Hummingbird’s wings can beat up to 70 times per second and they can fly 25-30 mph.
– At night they go into torpor, lowering their metabolic rate up to 10% of their active rate to conserve energy.
– A dominant food source is nectar from columbine and paintbrush flowers. They also eat small insects for protein and tree sap for nutrients.
Conclusion
Identifying the Black-chinned Hummingbird requires observing key details including the male’s purple throat, the white-tipped tail, small size, and western range. Paying attention to behavior like the male’s dive displays can also help confirm an identification. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are feisty, energetic birds that flourish across mountains, deserts and gardens of the American West each summer.