Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri vs Archilochus colubris): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The default hummers of West and East. Three rules:
- Male throat: black chin + violet band = Black-chinned; ruby-red = Ruby-throated.
- Range: West of the Plains = Black-chinned; East = Ruby-throated — geography usually settles it.
- Females: nearly identical plain green-and-white; in the overlap zone, call them “female hummingbird sp.”
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The western and eastern standards, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus alexandri | Archilochus colubris |
| Length KEY | 3.5–3.9 in (9–10 cm) | 3.1–3.5 in (8–9 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 3.1–4.3 in (8–11 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz (3 g) | 0.1 oz (2–6 g) |
| Overall Shape | Slim hummingbird with a slightly decurved bill | Small, slim hummingbird |
| Male Plumage KEY | Black chin with a band of iridescent violet below it; otherwise green and gray | Iridescent ruby-red throat (gorget) on a green body; forked tail; black mask |
| Female Plumage | Plain green above, whitish below, no throat patch | Green above, white below, no throat color; white-tipped rounded tail |
| Bill Shape | Slightly downcurved slender bill | Straight, slender black bill |
| Tail | Forked dark tail (male), white-tipped (female) | Forked (male) or rounded white-tipped (female) |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds across the interior West and Southwest along rivers; winters in Mexico | The only breeding hummingbird of the eastern US; winters in Central America |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant; absent in winter | Long-distance migrant, many crossing the Gulf of Mexico; present April–September |
| Feeder Presence | Summer sugar-water regular at western feeders | The default sugar-water hummingbird of the entire East |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water, tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water (4:1), tiny insects and spiders |
| Song KEY | Soft warbled twitter from a perch | High squeaky chips and rapid twitters |
| Flight Call | High thin chips and chase squeaks | Quick “chip” notes; wings hum audibly |
| Population Trend | Common across the interior West | Increasing with feeder and garden planting |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Black-chinned Hummingbird — Male
Archilochus alexandri
- Black chin with a violet band that flashes only in good light.
- Green back, gray-white belly; forked tail.
- Pumps its tail constantly while hovering.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Male
Archilochus colubris
- Ruby-red gorget — black-looking in shade, blazing in sun.
- Forked tail; black mask between eye and gorget.
- The East’s only breeding hummingbird.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Black-chinned Hummingbird — Female
Archilochus alexandri
- Plain green-and-white; no throat color.
- White-tipped tail corners.
- Slim bill slightly curved down.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Female
Archilochus colubris
- Green and white, no throat color.
- White-tipped rounded tail.
- Aggressively defends feeders.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Throat | Black chin, violet lower band | Iridescent ruby-red |
| Male Crown | Green | Green, slightly darker |
| Male Tail | Slightly forked, dark | Forked, dark |
| Female Throat | Plain white, sometimes streaked | Plain white |
| Female Tail | White tips on outer feathers | White tips — nearly identical |
| Range | West of the Great Plains | East of the Rockies |
| Migration | To western Mexico | Many fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico |
Song & Call Comparison
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Voice: high thin chips; wings produce a soft hum.
Behavior: tail-pumping while feeding is a good habit clue.
Black-chinned Hummingbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Voice: high squeaky chips and twitters at feeders.
Behavior: males perform U-shaped dive displays in spring.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Black-chinned Hummingbird breeds across the Southwest — river valleys and towns from Texas to California, wintering in western Mexico.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird of the East, migrating to Central America — many crossing the Gulf of Mexico nonstop. The two meet in central Texas and the southern Plains.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: southwestern feeders, 4:1 sugar water.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird: eastern feeders — hang them by late April, keep them clean.
- Recipe for both: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water; no dye, no honey.
- Flowers: trumpet vine and bee balm in the East; salvias and penstemons in the West.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are adaptable western town birds, calm around porch feeders.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are fiery — males defend feeders with chattering dive-bombs, and both sexes fearlessly face down birds ten times their size.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Range. West = Black-chinned; East = Ruby-throated.
- Male throat color. Violet band = Black-chinned; red = Ruby-throated.
- Male chin. Black = Black-chinned.
- Females. Use range; in the Plains overlap, accept an uncertain ID.
- Migration. Gulf crosser heading south along the coast = Ruby-throated.
- Winter. Any winter hummingbird is likely neither — check for Anna’s or Rufous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Black-chinned from a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
Males are easy: a black chin with a violet band vs a ruby-red throat. Range also helps — Black-chinned lives west of the Great Plains, Ruby-throated to the east. Females are nearly identical.
Where do their ranges overlap?
Central Texas and the southern Great Plains — the only region where both species regularly occur and where female identification is genuinely difficult.
Is the Ruby-throated really the only eastern hummingbird?
It is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern U.S. and Canada, though several western species (especially Rufous) appear as rare winter visitors.
Do Ruby-throateds really fly across the Gulf of Mexico?
Yes — many make a nonstop 500-mile Gulf crossing each fall and spring, nearly doubling their body weight in fat beforehand.
What is the right nectar recipe?
One part white sugar to four parts water for both species — no red dye, no honey, and clean the feeder every few days, daily in hot weather.
When should I hang my feeder?
East: by mid-April, before Ruby-throateds arrive from the Gulf. Southwest: feeders can stay up year-round, with Black-chinneds arriving in spring and Anna’s or Costa’s using them in winter.
Key Takeaways
- Male Throat: Violet band = Black-chinned; ruby-red = Ruby-throated.
- Range: West = Black-chinned; East = Ruby-throated.
- Females: Nearly identical — use range.
- Migration: Gulf-crosser = Ruby-throated.
- Nectar: 4:1 sugar water, no dye, for both.
- Winter: Winter hummers are usually other species.