Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) lives in desert scrublands across Western US, British Columbia, Oklahoma, and Mexico. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Black-Chinned Hummingbird
- During courtship the male performs a spectacular dive that can reach 12 to 18 m, using the plunge both to attract a mate and to defend his territory. As he swoops, air rushes through his feathers and produces a clear trill that can be heard by nearby rivals. This aerial display is repeated in wide U-shaped arcs, known as the pendulum display, and each dive is accompanied by a whirring sound.
- Females often build their well-camouflaged nests close to the active nests of larger predatory birds, a tactic that reduces the risk of egg predation. The larger birds do not prey on the hummingbird's eggs, but their presence deters smaller birds that might otherwise raid the nest. Nests are typically placed 1.8 to 3.7 m above the ground on exposed horizontal branches beneath the canopy, providing both concealment and the protective benefit of the nearby predator.
- Young black-chinned hummingbirds hatch almost featherless, but within three weeks they develop a complete plumage covering. By the end of the third week the fledglings are fully feathered and ready for the next stage of growth. After this rapid feather development they begin replacing their feathers in November, following their migration to wintering grounds.
- When it hovers, its wings make a low-pitched humming sound. This hum is distinct from the species' high-pitched chirp used in vocal communication.
- Male black-chinned hummingbirds are recognised by a glossy purple gorget that forms a bright ring just below their black chin, but the colour only becomes vivid when the feathers catch direct sunlight. Outside of sunlight the throat appears dark, while the rest of the bird is metallic green above and white-gray below. The male also bears a black face and chin and a dark forked tail, features that help differentiate it from females and juveniles.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWestern US, British Columbia, Oklahoma, and Mexico
HabitatDesert scrublands
DietNectar & insects
About the Black-Chinned Hummingbird
In the warm, golden light of dawn, the Black-Chinned Hummingbird dances through the desert landscape, its iridescent feathers glimmering like shards of splintered gemstones as it flits from flower to flower. With a whir of wings that beats at a hypnotic pace of up to 80 times per second, this tiny, fearless aviator navigates the arid expanse with effortless precision, its long, extendable tongue darting in and out of its beak to gather the sweet nectar that sustains it. As it hovers, suspended in mid-air, its black chin patch glints like polished onyx, a striking testament to the bird's remarkable adaptability and resilience in this harsh, sun-baked world.
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Black-Chinned Hummingbird photographed on Feravox
