Western Gems

Iridescent purple bow ties are the telltale signs of black-chinned hummingbirds

- AMY GRISAK

With a range from southern Mexico to British Columbia, black-chinned hummingbirds are commonly seen, yet often overlooked in favor of flashier western species. 

Long-Distance Travelers

"Black-chinneds have the second broadest breeding distribution, following the ruby-throated hummingbirds, and occupy a variety of mostly inland habitats including dry scrub, riparian and oak woodlands, and suburban areas where they regularly visit gardens and feeders across their breeding range," says Jason Fidorra, district wildlife biologist for Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

"In the summer they breed primarily in the U.S. from the Rockies and westward, plus western Texas and Oklahoma," Jason says. "They're a known and important species to many gardeners, despite their fairly subtle appearance for a hummingbird."

Field Marks