Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Costa’s 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
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird • Wikimedia Commons
Black-chinned Hummingbird vs Costa’s Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri vs Calypte costae): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two purple desert hummingbirds. Three rules:
- Male head: black chin with a violet band only = Black-chinned; purple crown AND long flared purple throat = Costa’s.
- Gorget shape: a neat band = Black-chinned; mustache flares extending past the head = Costa’s.
- Size: slightly larger and longer-billed = Black-chinned; tiny and compact = Costa’s.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The desert-river hummer and the true desert hummer, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Archilochus alexandri | Calypte costae |
| Length KEY | 3.5–3.9 in (9–10 cm) | 3.5 in (9 cm) |
| Wingspan | 4.3 in (11 cm) | 4.3 in (11 cm) |
| Weight | 0.1 oz (3 g) | 0.1 oz (3 g) |
| Overall Shape | Slim hummingbird with a slightly decurved bill | Small, compact hummingbird |
| Male Plumage KEY | Black chin with a band of iridescent violet below it; otherwise green and gray | Iridescent violet-purple crown and long mustache-like gorget plumes flaring at the sides |
| Female Plumage | Plain green above, whitish below, no throat patch | Green above, whitish below, plainer than other females |
| Bill Shape | Slightly downcurved slender bill | Slightly downcurved slender bill |
| Tail | Forked dark tail (male), white-tipped (female) | Short dark tail |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds across the interior West and Southwest along rivers; winters in Mexico | Sonoran and Mojave deserts; southern California and Arizona gardens |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant; absent in winter | Partial migrant — many move short distances |
| Feeder Presence | Summer sugar-water regular at western feeders | Desert garden sugar-water visitor year-round in the low desert |
| Favorite Foods | Nectar, sugar water, tiny insects | Nectar, sugar water, desert sage and cactus flowers, tiny insects |
| Song KEY | Soft warbled twitter from a perch | A high, thin “zing” whistle during display |
| Flight Call | High thin chips and chase squeaks | Sharp tik notes |
| Population Trend | Common across the interior West | Stable in desert suburbs with irrigated gardens |
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.
Costa’s Hummingbird — Male
Calypte costae
- Violet crown + flaring mustache gorget — a purple “face shield”.
- Gorget plumes extend well past the throat.
- Compact body, shorter-tailed than Anna’s.
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.
Costa’s Hummingbird — Female
Calypte costae
- Very plain green-and-white; whitish throat.
- Smaller and daintier than female Anna’s.
- Desert gardens and washes.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Black-chinned Hummingbird | Costa’s Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Male Crown | Green, unremarkable | Iridescent purple — matches the throat |
| Male Gorget | Black chin, neat violet band | Purple with long side flares |
| Male Size | 3.9 in | 3.5 in — noticeably tiny |
| Female Size | Longer bill, larger | Tiny, short-tailed, short-billed |
| Female Underparts | Plain grayish-white | Cleaner white, very compact |
| Habitat | Desert rivers, towns, gardens | True desert — creosote, cholla, washes |
| Breeding Season | Spring-summer | Late winter into spring — desert bloom time |
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
Costa’s Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Display: high thin whistled zing during shuttle display flights.
Calls: sharp tik notes at feeders.
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Black-chinned Hummingbird breeds along rivers and in towns across the Southwest and winters in western Mexico.
The Costa’s Hummingbird is the specialist of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts — southern California to Arizona — breeding in late winter when desert flowers bloom, then largely vanishing from the hottest months.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Black-chinned Hummingbird: the standard desert-town feeder bird, spring through fall.
- Costa’s Hummingbird: desert feeders late winter through spring; many leave in the summer heat.
- Mix: 4:1 sugar water, cleaned and refilled twice a week — daily in desert heat.
- Flowers: chuparosa, desert lavender and penstemon for Costa’s; salvias for both.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are steady feeder citizens — adaptable, tolerant of people, happy on a porch.
Costa’s Hummingbirds are desert dandies — males perform looping dive displays with a high-pitched whistle, then vanish into the creosote.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male crown. Green = Black-chinned; purple = Costa’s.
- Gorget. Neat violet band = Black-chinned; long purple flares = Costa’s.
- Size. Larger = Black-chinned; tiny compact = Costa’s.
- Habitat. River towns = Black-chinned; open desert = Costa’s.
- Season. Midwinter desert hummer with purple flare = Costa’s.
- Female size. Longer-billed = Black-chinned; tiny and short-tailed = Costa’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Black-chinned from a Costa’s Hummingbird?
Male Costa’s have an iridescent purple crown AND a purple gorget with long side flares. Male Black-chinneds have a green crown and a neat violet band below a black chin. Costa’s is also noticeably tinier.
Do Costa’s Hummingbirds really have a purple mustache?
Yes — the male’s gorget extends into long iridescent purple flares at the sides, visible when he turns his head. It is the most extravagant gorget of any U.S. desert hummingbird.
Which one breeds in winter?
Costa’s — nesting peaks in late winter to early spring in the deserts, timed to the bloom of chuparosa and other desert flowers.
How do I tell the females apart?
Costa’s females are tiny and compact with a short bill and tail; Black-chinned females are larger with a longer, slightly decurved bill. Both are plain below.
Why do Costa’s disappear in summer?
Many leave the hottest low desert after the spring bloom, wandering upslope or along the coast — then return to desert feeders by late fall.
Will both use the same feeder?
Yes — in Sonoran desert towns, feeders can host Costa’s in late winter and Black-chinneds through the warm months, plus Anna’s year-round.
Key Takeaways
- Male Crown: Green = Black-chinned; purple = Costa’s.
- Gorget: Neat band = Black-chinned; flared mustache = Costa’s.
- Size: Costa’s is the tiny one.
- Habitat: River towns = Black-chinned; true desert = Costa’s.
- Season: Late-winter desert breeder = Costa’s.
- Female: Long bill = Black-chinned; tiny compact = Costa’s.