Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

10 cm (3-4"). Common in western lowlands and mountains. A few Black-chins winter in southeast United States and may be mistaken for Ruby-throated hummers.

Male: truly black throat otherwise white underneath.

Females: are white underneath and are not safely told in field from female Costa's or female Ruby-throated.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Female - Littleton, Colorado - July 29, 2010

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Female - Littleton, Colorado - July 28, 2011

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Male - Littleton, Colorado - August 11, 2009

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Black Chinned Hummingbird - Archilochus alexandri

Credit: Randy

Black Chinned Hummingbirds @ R-U-N-N-O-F-T

Credit: madplanter

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Female)

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Green · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:444-black-chinned-hummingbird-female:1:1 Source: 444 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Female), row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Green · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:444-black-chinned-hummingbird-female:2:1 Source: 444 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Female), row 2

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:443-black-chinned-hummingbird-male:1:1 Source: 443 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Male), row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Green · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow
Compared with other hummingbirds, how large did it look?: About average for a hummingbird · Unknown
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hummingbird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:443-black-chinned-hummingbird-male:2:1 Source: 443 Black-chinned Hummingbird (Male), row 2