Life List 071
Visually documented
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
- First photographed
- June 23, 2026
- First location
- Utah, United States
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
An evolving study
Black-chinned Hummingbird portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Archilochus alexandri
Overview
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a slender western hummingbird that occupies habitats from desert canyons to mountain streams. It often feeds close to the ground and readily visits gardens and feeders.
Identification
Adult males have a velvety black throat with a narrow iridescent purple band at the base, green back, pale breast, and white collar. Females are green above and pale below with a dark-spotted throat and white-tipped tail corners.
Range
Breeds across the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Most migrate to western and southern Mexico for winter.
Habitat
Desert washes, riparian woodland, canyon scrub, oak and pinyon-juniper edges, mountain meadows, parks, and gardens.
Diet
Flower nectar, tiny insects, spiders, and sap from sapsucker wells.
Photography by Brittany Templin
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