Spotlight on Local Birds
Spotlight on Local Birds
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By Jim Gain
Black-chinned Hummingbird
By Jim Gain
What do Black-chinned Hummingbirds look like?
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are small, sleek, and shimmering! They have metallic green backs and white underbellies, making them blend beautifully with their surroundings. The males have a black throat with a thin, iridescent purple band that shines in the sunlight—like a hidden jewel!
Females, on the other hand, have pale throats and white-tipped tail feathers. Both have long, straight bills perfect for sipping nectar.
When do Black-chinned Hummingbirds visit California's Central Valley?
Black-chinned Hummingbirds typically visit California's Central Valley during their spring migration, which happens between March and May. They travel north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America, stopping in California to breed and feed on nectar-rich flowers. If you're hoping to spot them, keep an eye out for their arrival in gardens, parks, and nature reserves during this time. You can also track their migration using this map to see where they’ve been sighted recently.
Where are Black-chinned Hummingbirds found in California's Central Valley?
Black-chinned Hummingbirds can be found in gardens, parks, and riparian areas throughout California's Central Valley, especially during their spring migration. They are commonly spotted in places with nectar-rich flowers and hummingbird feeders, as well as near rivers and woodlands where they nest and forage.
What do Black-chinned Hummingbirds feed on?
Black-chinned Hummingbirds have a sweet tooth—well, a sweet beak! They primarily feed on nectar from flowers, using their long, straw-like tongues to sip it up while hovering. But they don’t just rely on nectar—they also eat tiny insects like gnats, mosquitoes, and spiders, which provide essential protein for their energy-packed lifestyle.
At feeders, they enjoy a simple sugar-water mix (4 parts water to 1 part sugar), mimicking the natural nectar they find in flowers. If you want to attract them, planting bright, tubular flowers like salvia, trumpet vine, and bee balm is a great way to keep them coming back.
Nesting: Black-chinned Hummingbirds are tiny architects! They build small, cup-shaped nests using plant down, spider silk, and cocoon fibers, making them soft yet sturdy. The nests are often placed on thin branches, usually 6 to 12 feet above the ground, in areas with good cover.
As the baby hummingbirds grow, the nest stretches to accommodate them—almost like a tiny hammock! The female is the sole caretaker, incubating two white eggs for about 13 to 16 days. Once hatched, she feeds the chicks by regurgitating tiny insects and nectar deep into their mouths. The young take their first flight at around 20 to 21 days old.
How can kids observe Black-chinned Hummingbirds in nature?
Kids can observe Black-chinned Hummingbirds by setting up a hummingbird-friendly space! Here are some fun ways to do it:
Plant colorful flowers 🌸—Hummingbirds love nectar-rich flowers like trumpet vine, salvia, and bee balm.
Hang a hummingbird feeder 🍯—Fill it with a simple sugar-water mix (4 parts water to 1 part sugar) to attract them.
Stay still and quiet 🤫—These tiny birds are fast and cautious, so sitting patiently near a feeder or garden is the best way to watch them.
Look for their acrobatics 🎭—Black-chinned Hummingbirds can hover, fly backward, and dart around like little aerial performers.
Watch during migration seasons 🛤️—They are most active in spring and summer when they travel through different regions.
For more information and photographs, please visit my Black-chinned Hummingbird webpage.
Western Kingbird
By Jim Gain
Characteristics: Western Kingbirds are monomorphic (males and females have similar appearance), and are recognized by their yellow belly, all pale-gray chest and throat and gray-brown back. They will frequently flash their white outer tail feathers as they fly out from their perch. Western kingbirds are very territorial. Their name 'kingbird' is derived from their "take-charge" behavior. These birds aggressively defend their territory, even against much larger birds such as hawks. They will attack humans, livestock, and pets when they think their young are in danger. The song of these birds is a squeaky chatter, sometimes compared to a squeaky toy. The call is a sharp loud 'whit'.
Diet: In California’s Central Valley, a Western Kingbird's diet primarily consists of a variety of insects like wasps, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, moths, flies, and true bugs, with occasional additions of spiders, millipedes, and small amounts of berries or fruits from shrubs like elderberry and hawthorn, depending on availability.
Occurrence & Distribution: Western Kingbirds are Common Summer Visitors to California’s Central Valley and are one of the earliest returning Neotropic migrants usually arriving from Mexico and Central America in mid to late March. Their sudden appearance along country road fence lines is a sure sign that Spring has arrived.
Nomenclature History: The Western Kingbird was originally known as the Arkansas Kingbird, but scientists changed its name to acknowledge its wide range across western North America.
For more information and photographs, please visit my Western Kingbird webpage. Jim Gain
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