[Length 4.25 in. Wingspan 5.75 in.]

This female (on its nest) Berylline Hummingbird was photographed at Cave Creek Canyon, Portal, Arizona, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 7, 2007)

[Length 4.25 in. Wingspan 5.75 in.]

This female (returning to its nest) Berylline Hummingbird was photographed at Cave Creek Canyon, Portal, Arizona, USA. The blur to the right of the nest at 2 o'clock is the bird in flight. The cinnamon wing patch, although very blurred in this photograph, is visible as a diagnostic field mark. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 7, 2007)

[Length 4.25 in. Wingspan 5.75 in.]

This female (on its nest) Berylline Hummingbird was photographed at Cave Creek Canyon, Portal, Arizona, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 7, 2007)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.75 in.]

Black-chinned Hummingbirds occur throughout the western US and extreme southwestern Canada. Hummingbirds get their name from the low humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. There are a number of birds that can hover, but Hummingbirds are the only ones that can actually fly backwards. Male Hummingbirds have iridescent coloring on the throat or gorget. Most colors in nature are created by chemical compounds called pigments that look the same from any direction. However, iridescent coloring is created by the physical structure of the feather reflecting and refracting the light, and the color can only be seen when the feathers are facing directly towards the observer. When the bird turns its head even slightly in either direction, the color disappears and the feathers appear black. The effect is similar to a mirror reflecting bright light into your eyes. If the mirror is turned even slightly, the bright light disappears. Females lack this coloring since they do not display to attract a mate. However, females usually have white spots in the tail feathers that they use to display to other Hummingbirds, particularly when they compete for food sources, such as flowers and feeders. This male Black-chinned Hummingbird was photographed at a feeder in the Davis Mountains of Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm f4 EDAF lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 2000)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.75 in.]

Black-chinned Hummingbirds occur throughout the western US and extreme southwestern Canada. Hummingbirds get their name from the low humming sound produced by their rapidly beating wings. There are a number of birds that can hover, but Hummingbirds are the only ones that can actually fly backwards. Male Hummingbirds have iridescent coloring on the throat or gorget. Most colors in nature are created by chemical compounds called pigments that look the same from any direction. However, iridescent coloring is created by the physical structure of the feather reflecting and refracting the light, and the color can only be seen when the feathers are facing directly towards the observer. When the bird turns its head even slightly in either direction, the color disappears and the feathers appear black. The effect is similar to a mirror reflecting bright light into your eyes. If the mirror is turned even slightly, the bright light disappears. Females lack this coloring since they do not display to attract a mate. However, females usually have white spots in the tail feathers that they use to display to other Hummingbirds, particularly when they compete for food sources, such as flowers and feeders. This male Black-chinned Hummingbird was photographed at a feeder in the Davis Mountains of Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm f4 EDAF lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: June 2000)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.75 in.]

This male Black-chinned Hummingbird was photographed at Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, Bisbee, Arizona, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: August 5, 2007)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.75 in.]

This female Black-chinned Hummingbird was photographed at a residence, Andrews, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: July 2, 2008)

[Length 3.75 in. Wingspan 4.75 in.]

This female Black-chinned Hummingibrd was photographed at an RV park near Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Mission, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: January 6, 2011)