Black-Chinned Hummingbird: A Tiny Wonder of Nature

Bird Introduction-Black-chinned Hummingbird

The Black-Chinned Hummingbird is a small bird that is mostly found in North America. This little quick bird is known for its fast movements and beautiful colors. The black-chinned hummingbird has black chin and purple throat patches while females have green backs with gray-white bellies. In this article, I will explore everything about the Black-Chinned Hummingbird, from its habitats, size, and colors to its diet and how you can easily attract it to your garden. Let's dive into the details.

What Does the Black-Chinned Hummingbird Look Like?

# Size and Color

The Black-Chinned Hummingbird is a very small type of bird species. This species of bird can grow up to 3.5 inches long and weigh up to 3 grams. Due to their black chin and purple patch on their throat, it is easy to recognize male birds. But the females are a bit duller in color with green on their backs and some grayish-white spots on their bellies.

# Special Features

Males have black chin and purple throat patches while females have green backs with gray-white bellies. Both males and females have long beaks that are very helpful for them.

Where Do They Live?

# Natural Habitat

Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are commonly found in open woodlands, mountains, orchards, meadows, deserts, and riversides. Also, these birds love places with lots of flowers, which provide the nectar they need to eat. Black-chinned hummingbirds are very adaptable to different habitats and can be found in arid areas as well as riparian regions. They prefer shaded areas and are often found in mountain foothills, canyons, and urban and suburban gardens and parks.

# Geographic Range

These birds are usually found in the Western United States, Mexico, and some parts of Canada. 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. When the winter comes, they migrate to warmer places like Mexico and Central America.

# Black-chinned Hummingbird in the backyard:

Black-chinned hummingbirds regularly visit hummingbird feeders and nectar-producing flowers can attract them. Black-chinned Hummingbirds can be very tricky to follow as they dart and weave among flowering shrubs and insect swarms.

What Do They Eat?

#Diet

The Black-Chinned Hummingbird has a sweet tooth! Their main diet is nectar which they get from different flowers. Sometimes they also catch small insects and spiders to get the protein they need. They also love to feed sugar-water mixtures in hummingbird feeders.

# How do They eat?

These species of birds are amazing at hovering. They can easily stay in one place in the air while they drink nectar from the flowers. They use their long beaks to reach into flowers and get nectar with their tongues.

How Do They Nest?

# Mating and Courtship

Just like other birds male black-chinned hummingbirds perform special flying displays to attract females. The Black-Chinned Hummingbirds always fly in U-shapes and make buzzing sounds with their wings.

# Nest Building

Just like the other small birds, female black-chinned build tiny nests. They choose to make their nest in a tree or shrub almost 5 to 12 feet above the ground, sometimes up to 30 feet. They usually build their nest on horizontal branches below the canopy. They use grasses, plant fibers, and spider webs to make their nest.

# Egg Laying and Chicks

The female black-chinned lays two tiny eggs. They hatch the eggs in about two weeks. After that parents take care of their eggs very well for almost 14 days. After completing their first stage they dive into the second stage of their life. The chicks leave the nest after about three weeks.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird’s Behavior

They hover at flowers to eat nectar and sometimes they visit feeders. They are also searching for tiny insects to get protein. They follow their competitors to chase off and for flying insects to eat. During territorial defense and courtship, male black-chinned display by diving 66-100 feet.

Songs and Calls of the Black-Chinned Humming Birds

Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are small types of bird but they have amazing songs and calls that are a joy to hear.

# Black-Chinned Hummingbirds Song

These birds' songs are usually a series of high-pitched. These songs are very soft and can be hard to hear. Males sing their songs to attract females. Their sweet songs sound like "chip-chip-chip."

# Their Calls

Their calls are very simple. They used their calls for communication between birds. Black-Chinned hummingbirds make calls while they face danger, especially during feeding time. Common calls include a single "tik" sound. Depending on the situation, they make their calls high or low.

# When Do They Sing and Call?

• During Courtship: During courtship displays, males use their songs to attract females. They often combine singing with acrobatic flights.
• Territorial Defense: Males sing to defend their territory from other males. The song serves as a warning to other hummingbirds to stay away.
• Feeding Time: Black-Chinned Hummingbirds may call to communicate while feeding, especially if they feel another bird is entering their feeding spot.

# How to Listen for Their Songs and Calls

To hear the songs and calls of the Black-Chinned Hummingbird, try these tips:

• Early Morning and Late Afternoon: These are the best times to listen to hummingbird songs. They are most active during these periods.
• Quiet Areas: Find a quiet spot away from loud noises. The songs and calls of hummingbirds can be subtle, so a calm environment will help you hear them better.
• Use Binoculars: If you see a hummingbird, observe it. You may notice the bird singing or calling.
  

# What is the spiritual meaning of Black-Chinned Hummingbirds

Black-Chinned Hummingbirds stands for the joy of life's simple pleasures. Their agility and hovering ability remind us to remain flexible and embrace change. They also represent savoring the sweetness of life, much like sipping nectar. Their presence encourages resilience and finding joy and purpose despite challenges, highlighting the importance of appreciating life's moments.
You may learn more about The Spiritual Meaning of Hummingbirds.

Fun Facts About Black-Chinned Hummingbirds

The Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are amazing and full of surprises! Here are some interesting facts about these tiny birds that you might not know before.

1. Incredible Speed

Did you know that these hummingbirds can flap their wings up to 80 times per second? These fast wing movements can help them to fly backward, hove in one place, and even upside down. They can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h).

2. Amazing Metabolism

Black-Chinned Hummingbirds have one of the highest metabolisms of any animal. That's why they need to eat about half of their body weight in nectar and insects every day. Their heart beats up to 1000 to 1250 beats per minute when in flight.

3. Long-Distance Travelers

The Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are great travelers. They migrate long distances between their breeding grounds in North America and wintering areas in Mexico and Central America. Some may travel over 500 miles (800 kilometers) non-stop during migration!

4. Unique Courtship Displays

During courtship, males perform U-shaped dives to impress females. They also make buzzing sounds with their wings.

5. Tiny Nest

The Black-Chinned Hummingbirds are very small that's why their nest are also small, no bigger than a golf ball. They use spider webs, grasses, and plant fibers to make their nest.  They choose to make their nest in a tree or shrub almost 5 to 12 feet above the ground, sometimes up to 30 feet.

Are They in Danger?

# Conservation Status

The Black-Chinned Hummingbird is not currently endangered on the IUCN red list. It is listed as "Least Concern," meaning their population is stable and many Black-Chinned hummingbirds are living on earth now.

# Threats

Their conservation status is good but they do face some threats:

• Habitat Loss: Habitat loss is the main natural threat to any kind of bird. These birds lose their homes due to many kinds of reasons for habitat loss.
• Climate Change: Climate change is another threat to these birds. Changing weather patterns can affect their migration and food sources.

How to Attract Black-Chinned Hummingbirds to Your Garden

# Hummingbird Feeders

You can easily attract these tiny birds to your garden with a Birdfy Hummingbird Feeder. Fill it with 1 part sugar, and 4 parts water and mix the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Do not use food coloring because it can harm the birds.

# Plants Flowers

Plant Trumpet Vine, Bee Balm, and Salvia flowers that hummingbirds are actually like. These plants are bright in color and have lots of nectar for attracting hummingbirds.

# Hummingbird-Friendly Environment

Just provide them with water to attract these black-chinned hummingbirds. Do not use chemicals. Chemicals can harm these birds and their food sources.

Conclusion

The Black-Chinned Hummingbird is a delightful and tiny bird that brings joy to many people. Whether you're a bird watcher or just love nature, these hummingbirds are fascinating to observe. With a little effort, you can attract them to your garden and enjoy their incredible acrobatics up close.