The Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is a small, energetic bird that is found throughout western North America. Here are some interesting facts about these tiny, feathered creatures:
Identification
The Black-chinned Hummingbird gets its name from the black feathers that cover the chin and throat area on the males. Females and young birds have white chins and throats with faint dark streaks on the sides. These hummingbirds have metallic green backs and crowns, white underparts, and dark tails with white tips. The wings make a distinctive whistling or squeaking sound during flight. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are relatively small, measuring 3-3.5 inches in length and weighing 2-6 grams.
Range and Habitat
The breeding range of the Black-chinned Hummingbird extends from British Columbia in the north to Baja California in the south, and eastward to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and western Texas. They migrate through Arizona and New Mexico and overwinter primarily in Mexico. These hummingbirds are found in a variety of semi-open habitats with flowering plants, including mountain meadows, riparian woodlands, scrublands, gardens, and parks. They tend to avoid dense, closed-canopy forests.
Unique Adaptations
Black-chinned Hummingbirds have specialized adaptations that allow them to hover and feed while in flight:
- Wings that can beat up to 70 times per second
- Reversible shoulders that allow the wings to rotate in a full circle
- Lightweight, compact bodies with hollow, fragile bones
- A long, tapered bill perfect for drinking nectar from flowers
- A long, specialized tongue for accessing nectar
- Excellent eyesight to spot food sources while in flight
Diet
Like all hummingbirds, Black-chinned Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and small insects such as gnats, fruit flies, spiders, and aphids. Their diet consists of:
- Nectar from flowers such as columbines, larkspurs, sage, fuchsias, penstemons, and others
- Small insects and spiders captured in flight or gleaned from flowers and leaves
- Sugar-water from feeders provided by humans
- Sap from wells created by sapsucker woodpeckers
To meet their high metabolic demands, these tiny birds must consume over half their body weight in nectar each day. Their long, extendable tongues allow them to retrieve nectar from even the deepest flower blossoms.
Courtship and Nesting
The breeding season for Black-chinned Hummingbirds typically runs from March through July. Courtship displays include aerial maneuvers and dives by the males. Nests are small, compact cups built primarily by the females using spider webs, plant down, lichens, and bud scales bound together with saliva. Nest placement is usually on the lower branch of a deciduous tree or shrub.
Females lay 1-3 tiny white eggs which incubate for 12-16 days. The female cares for the hatchlings alone, feeding them regurgitated nectar and insects. Young birds fledge in about 3 weeks but may return periodically to the nest for another couple weeks as they learn to feed themselves.
Migration
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are migratory, breeding in the western U.S. and Canada before traveling to southern Arizona and Mexico for the winter. Their annual migration covers over 2000 miles and involves these key stages:
- February – Begin leaving Mexico and southern Arizona to move north
- March to May – Arrive on breeding grounds and establish nesting territories
- June to July – Females occupy nesting territories while males move higher in elevation
- August – Young birds leave the nest and migrate south with adults
- September to November – Mass migration back to Mexico for the winter
During migration these tiny birds can fly up to 25 miles per hour. They stop frequently to rest and refuel, consuming nectar and insects to power their flight.
Communication
Black-chinned Hummingbirds have various vocalizations and displays used for communication, including:
- Chipping and squeaking noises made during fights or chasing
- Whistling or squeaking sounds from wing beats during flight
- Shrill high-pitched chips used by young begging for food
- Trills and buzzing sounds during courtship
- Diving displays and rapid climbs by males defending territory
Males perform elaborate courtship rituals, flying up and diving repeatedly to impress females. Flared tail and throat feathers and rapid wing-beats communicate aggression toward other males or predators.
Torpor
To conserve energy, Black-chinned Hummingbirds are capable of entering torpor, a temporary state of decreased physiological activity. Their metabolic rate slows down and body temperature drops by up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Torpor is often used overnight or at times when food is scarce. This adaptation allows the birds to survive periods of extreme cold temperatures and limited food availability.
Role in Pollination
Like other hummingbirds, the Black-chinned Hummingbird plays an important ecological role by pollinating flowers as it feeds on nectar. As they move from blossom to blossom accessing nectar, pollen attaches to their feathers and heads. When they visit the next flower, some of this pollen rubs off, fertilizing the plant. Some species of plants rely on hummingbirds for pollination and have evolved flowers perfectly adapted to their long bills and hover-feeding.
Attracting Black-chinned Hummingbirds
Here are some tips for attracting Black-chinned Hummingbirds to your yard:
- Set up feeders with sugar or artificial nectar solution – 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water is a good mix.
- Plant plenty of nectar-rich, tubular flowers in red, orange, pink, or purple colors including fuchsias, columbines, trumpet vines, penstemons, and sages.
- Provide a water mister for bathing and keep feeders clean to prevent disease transmission.
- Avoid using pesticides which may poison the birds or kill off insect prey.
- Supply natural cover such as trees and shrubs for nesting and escaping predators.
With a little effort, you can design your yard to invite these energetic, fascinating little birds in to delight you with their beauty and aerobatics.
Threats and Conservation
The Black-chinned Hummingbird remains widespread and successful overall as a species. However, they do face some significant threats, primarily:
- Habitat loss from development
- Pesticide use reducing insect prey populations
- Outdoor cats preying on nestlings and adults
- Collision hazards from buildings, towers, and wind turbines
- Climate change disrupting timing of blooming plants
Sustaining nectar supplies along migration routes and on the wintering grounds is a key conservation need. Providing nesting habitat away from developed areas and cats can also help protect local populations. Reducing pesticide usage, installing window collision deterrents, and proper placement of wind energy projects may also benefit Black-chinned Hummingbirds.
Fun Facts
Here are some additional fun and fascinating facts about the amazing Black-chinned Hummingbird:
- They can fly backwards and even upside down!
- Their wings beat on average 53 times per second – and may reach up to 70 beats per second during courtship displays.
- Their hearts can beat over 1,200 times per minute while in flight or over 600 times per minute while resting.
- They build nests about the size of a walnut using spider silk and plant down which allow the nest to stretch as the young grow.
- To conserve energy overnight, they can lower their body temperature by over 50 degrees F – entering a hibernation-like state.
- They have unusually short legs that are used primarily just for perching, not walking or hopping.
- Their tubular tongues can flick in and out up to 13 times per second when feeding.
- They are solitary birds that aggressively defend their feeding territories.
- They prefer feeding on red or orange tubular flowers which are rich in energy-supplying sucrose.
- Their migratory flight path takes them over the Gulf of Mexico, requiring a nonstop flight of up to 23 hours for some birds.
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a fascinating little creature with some amazing physiological adaptations allowing it to master the art of hover-feeding. Watching these energetic, colorful birds in action is a delight for any nature lover. Hopefully this overview provides plenty of interesting facts about the habits, ecology, and behaviors of the Black-chinned Hummingbird.