Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Broad-tailed 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
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri vs Selasphorus platycercus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The lowland and mountain hummingbirds of the Southwest. Three rules:
- Male throat: black with a violet band = Black-chinned; rose-magenta = Broad-tailed.
- Wing sound: a loud metallic trill in flight = Broad-tailed male; no whistle = Black-chinned.
- Elevation: riverside towns and lowlands = Black-chinned; mountain meadows = Broad-tailed.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The river-bottom hummer and the mountain hummer, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus alexandri | Selasphorus platycercus |
| Length KEY | 3.5–3.9 in (9–10 cm) | 4.3 in (11 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 5.3 in (13 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz (3 g) | 0.1–0.15 oz (3–4 g) |
| Overall Shape | Slim hummingbird with a slightly decurved bill | A Rocky Mountain hummingbird with a broad tail and a whistling wing-trill |
| Male Plumage KEY | Black chin with a band of iridescent violet below it; otherwise green and gray | Iridescent rose-magenta throat, green back, white chest, rufous-washed sides; broad tail |
| Female Plumage | Plain green above, whitish below, no throat patch | Green above, white below with rufous flanks and a spotted throat; tail tips white |
| Bill Shape | Slightly downcurved slender bill | Long, straight, black |
| Tail | Forked dark tail (male), white-tipped (female) | Broad, rufous-based in the male — and it whistles in flight |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds across the interior West and Southwest along rivers; winters in Mexico | Breeds in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin; winters in Mexico |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant; absent in winter | Long-distance migrant — the classic hummingbird of mountain meadows |
| Feeder Presence | Summer sugar-water regular at western feeders | Sugar-water feeders all summer at mountain homes; red penstemon and scarlet gilia |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water, tiny insects | Nectar and tiny insects |
| Song KEY | Soft warbled twitter from a perch | No true song; the male’s wings produce a loud metallic trill in flight |
| Flight Call | High thin chips and chase squeaks | Sharp “chit” notes |
| Population Trend | Common across the interior West | Stable; returns to the same mountain meadows each May |
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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Male
Selasphorus platycercus
- Rose-magenta throat, rufous-washed sides.
- Wings whistle a metallic trill in flight — unmistakable.
- The hummingbird of Rocky Mountain meadows.
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.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Female
Selasphorus platycercus
- Green and white with rufous flanks and white tail tips.
- Builds a lichen-covered cup on a pine or spruce branch.
- Arrives with the first mountain wildflowers.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Throat | Black chin, violet lower band | Rose-magenta overall |
| Male Wing Sound | A soft hum | Loud metallic trill — audible across a meadow |
| Male Tail | Dark, slightly forked | Broad, rufous at the base |
| Female Flanks | Plain, pale | Washed with rufous |
| Female Tail | White tips, no rufous | Rufous at base, white tips |
| Elevation | Lowlands, rivers, desert towns | Mountain meadows and pine woods |
| Migration | Winters in western Mexico | Winters in Mexico; returns with first mountain flowers |
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
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Wing sound: the male’s wings produce a loud, metallic trilling whistle in flight.
Calls: sharp chit notes. (no open recording available)
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Black-chinned Hummingbird breeds in lowland river valleys and towns across the Southwest — the common hummer of desert-city feeders.
The Broad-tailed Hummingbird breeds in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin high country, arriving with the first wildflowers of May. Where foothills meet valleys, feeders can host both.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: sugar-water feeders in lowland towns, 4:1 water-to-sugar.
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird: mountain feeders — protect from freezing at high elevation nights.
- Flowers: red penstemon and scarlet gilia for mountains; desert willow and salvia for lowlands.
- Territory: males of both species guard feeders fiercely; a second feeder out of sight doubles your birds.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are adaptable town birds — calm around people, nesting on porch lights and clotheslines.
Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are mountain sprites — males dive-display over meadows, wings whistling like tiny metal kites.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male throat. Black + violet = Black-chinned; rose-magenta = Broad-tailed.
- Wing sound. Metallic trill = Broad-tailed male.
- Elevation. Lowland town = Black-chinned; mountain meadow = Broad-tailed.
- Female flanks. Plain = Black-chinned; rufous-washed = Broad-tailed.
- Female tail. No rufous = Black-chinned; rufous base = Broad-tailed.
- Season. Winter straggler at a desert feeder = likely Black-chinned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Black-chinned from a Broad-tailed Hummingbird?
Males: black chin with a violet band vs an entirely rose-magenta throat. The Broad-tailed male also produces a loud metallic wing-trill in flight. Elevation helps too — lowlands vs mountains.
Which hummingbird has whistling wings?
The Broad-tailed — the male’s outer wing feathers are shaped to produce a loud metallic trill, audible across a mountain meadow. Females and Black-chinneds do not whistle.
What elevation separates them?
Broadly: Black-chinned breeds in lowland river valleys and towns; Broad-tailed breeds in mountain meadows and pine country. Foothill feeders may get both.
How do I tell the females apart?
Broad-tailed females have rufous-washed flanks and rufous at the tail base; Black-chinned females are plainer, with white-tipped tails and no rufous.
Do they hybridize?
Rarely — they overlap in the Southwest but prefer different elevations, and mixed pairs are very uncommon.
When do Broad-taileds arrive in the mountains?
With the first wildflowers, typically May — males claim meadow territories and start their whistling dive displays within days of arrival.
Key Takeaways
- Male Throat: Black + violet = Black-chinned; magenta = Broad-tailed.
- Wing Sound: Metallic trill = Broad-tailed male.
- Elevation: Lowlands = Black-chinned; mountains = Broad-tailed.
- Female Flanks: Plain = Black-chinned; rufous = Broad-tailed.
- Female Tail: White tips only = Black-chinned; rufous base = Broad-tailed.
- Feeders: Both take 4:1 sugar water; mountain feeders need frost care.