The black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) is a hummingbird occupying a broad range of habitats.
Description
The black-chinned hummingbird is long. Adults are metallic green above and white below with green flanks. Their bill is long, straight and slender. The adult male has a black face and chin, a glossy purple gorget, and a dark forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and no throat patch. Juvenile plumage is similar to that of adult females, but with buff margins on the dorsal feathers. Juvenile males may also possess purple feathers on their throats.
Young are born almost featherless, but grow a complete set of feathers within three weeks of hatching.
thumb|Chirping
Vocalization
The vocalization of the black-chinned hummingbird is a rapid, high-pitched chirp.
Distribution and habitat
Black-chinned hummingbirds are found in most of the western United States, reaching north into Canada in Alberta and British Columbia, east to Oklahoma, and as far south as Mexico. The males and females of this species use different habitats from one another for breeding territories. Black-chinned hummingbirds can exhibit territorial behavior around feeders as well as at other small feeding sites, becoming more defensive during breeding season. However, if there are numerous individuals in an area as well as multiple food sources, this species shows less territoriality.
External links
- Black-chinned hummingbird – Cornell Lab of Ornithology