Female Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Male vs Female Identification)

Black-jawed hummingbird (alexandrine ape) is a widespread breeding visitor in the western half of the United States. Occupying a variety of habitats from the Gulf of Mexico to British Columbia, these birds are no strangers to backyards in urban areas. Do you want to know what female black-jawed hummingbirds look like and how are they different from males?

It is easy to distinguish female black-jawed hummingbirds from males by looking at the color of the throat and tail edges. Females have pale (not black) throats and white-tipped feathers on the outside of the tail.

Female black-jawed hummingbirds exhibit very different behaviors during the breeding season. While the males defend their territory and put on dashing air displays, the females continue to build their own nests and raise their young.

This guide provides an in-depth look at the differences between male and female black-jawed hummingbirds. Read on to learn what they look like, how they behave, and how they compare to juveniles and similar species.

Female black-jawed hummingbird feeding from a flower

How do you know if a black-jawed hummingbird is male or female?

Black-jawed hummingbirds are not particularly colorful, although the species is sexually dimorphic, with distinct physical differences between the sexes. Fortunately, the most reliable differences can usually be seen from the front and back.

throat color

Male hummingbirds have distinctive smooth feathers on their throats called larynx. These showy feathers may impress potential mates and signal other males to keep them away. While present to a lesser extent in females of some species, it is absent in female black-jawed hummingbirds.

As the name suggests, male black-jawed hummingbirds have black feathers on their chins and throats. This black throat guard is trimmed with an iridescent purple band underneath. However, females have a light gray throat, often with some faint stripes or spots.

tail feathers

Fortunately, you can still spot a female black-jawed hummingbird even when her back is turned to you. The three outer feathers on either side of the tail are white-tipped. Adult males have green and purple tail feathers.

female black-cheeked hummingbird

male black-jawed hummingbird

What do female black-jawed hummingbirds look like?

The female black-jawed hummingbird is a small bird with a black upper body and a lighter underpart. Their upper body is metallic green in good light, with a grayish-white throat, chest, and belly. Their tail feathers are dark, but the tips of the three outer feathers on each side are white.

Black-jawed hummingbirds have relatively short wings, and they can extend their normally compact tails into a full half-moon while maneuvering around flowers or nectar feeders. Their beaks are long and straight, perfectly shaped to suck nectar from tubular flowers.

Hummingbirds are masters of the air, but their incredible flying skills come at the expense of other modes of locomotion. Although barely visible, these birds do have delicate black feet.

Hummingbirds have small, underdeveloped feet that are used only for perching. In fact, these energetic little birds can neither jump nor walk.

Close-up of a black-jawed hummingbird (female) in flight

female with.juvenile male

Female black-jawed hummingbirds are difficult to distinguish from female juveniles. However, a close look at their head and beak can help identify you. Juveniles have grooves in their beaks, although this feature is only visible in birds in the hand.

Juvenile black-jawed hummingbirds of both sexes have beige-edged feathers on the head and neck, giving the impression of a paler fan.

These “bright spots” fade as the chicks mature, but juvenile males usually have at least some iridescent throat feathers—their future throat guard.

similar species

Female black-jawed hummingbirds can be difficult to distinguish from other female hummingbirds, especially in the Southwest, where hummingbird diversity is highest. Bird watchers are most likely to confuse the following similar species:

• female anna hummingbird – This species is slightly larger, and the females often have red feathers on the throat.
• Costa Hummingbird – Females of this species often have purple throat feathers, although this is not always reliable. Knowing the differences between their calls is also helpful.
• female ruby-throated hummingbird – Females of this closely related species are virtually indistinguishable from black-jawed hummingbirds. Fortunately, the two rarely overlap in the US outside of Texas.

Although rare, black-jawed hummingbirds have been known to hybridize with several other species of hummingbirds. Identifying female hybrids is especially challenging.

Female black-jawed hummingbird perched on a branch

size difference

Female black-jawed hummingbirds are usually larger than males. On average, females have longer pinnacles (beak length), wing chords, and tails. However, large males are larger than small females, so size is not very useful for field identification.

Black-jawed hummingbird sizes (male and female)

• length: 3.5 inches (9 cm)
• span: 11 – 12 cm (4⅓ – 4¾ in)
• weight: 1⁄16 – 3⁄16 oz (2 – 5 g)

A pair of black-cheeked hummingbirds, female (left) and male (right)

behavioral difference

Of course, the most practical way to identify the sex of a black-cheeked hummingbird is by its appearance. However, observing their behavior can give us insight into their world.

habitat preference

There appear to be some differences in habitat choice between male and female black-jawed hummingbirds. Females tend to occupy moist areas near streams and valley floors, while males forage and display on high ground and on valley slopes.

migrant

As with many breeding migrants to North America, the males arrive in the spring before the females and leave early in the fall. This two-week preemptive step provides an opportunity to establish a territory in advance. Males are also capable of leaving early because they are not feeding their young.

Female black-jawed hummingbird perched on a hummingbird feeder

call

Black-jawed hummingbirds make at least five different calls. Singing is very rare and only heard by men.

nesting and feeding

Black-jawed hummingbirds do not form strong pair bonds, and the female is responsible for all aspects of nest building after mating. Read on to learn more about her nesting behavior.

nest

Female black-jawed hummingbirds choose a nesting site and build their nests without assistance. The nest is a neat cup made of fine plant material and cobwebs, often camouflaged with lichen.

hatch brood

The female black-jawed hummingbird does all the hatching, so if you’re lucky enough to see one of these in a nest, you can be sure it’s a female. After about two weeks of intensive care, the chicks hatched.

After hatching, her two chicks will need to hatch to keep warm, although as they grow older and require more and more food, her time in the nest will decrease.

feed

Females feed hummingbird babies by inserting their beaks directly into the hummingbird’s beak and spitting out a mixture of small insects and nectar. Young birds grow quickly and are ready to leave the nest after about three weeks. After fledgling, she will continue to feed them for a week.

Female black-jawed hummingbird sitting on the nest

common problem

Can female black-jawed hummingbirds raise offspring alone?

Male black-jawed hummingbirds do not provide assistance during the nesting process. Females are excellent mothers, often laying a second or even third nest in a single nesting season, which is all the more impressive considering they rarely reuse nests.

What color are female black-jawed hummingbirds?

Female black-jawed hummingbirds are a dull emerald green with a metallic sheen in good light. This color covers the top of their head, back and tail. The upper sides of their wings are grey-brown, and their throats and belly are off-white.

Do female black-jawed hummingbirds sing?

Female black-jawed hummingbirds make a variety of high-pitched calls when interacting with other hummingbirds.

Are female black-jawed hummingbirds territorial?

Female black-jawed hummingbirds are not territorial, although they may protect feeding areas. Males of this species are more territorial, although they often allow females to forage within their territories and are often subordinate to other hummingbird species.

Do female black-jawed hummingbirds have black jaws?

Ironically, female black-jawed hummingbirds don’t have black chins at all. Instead, their throats are light gray or cream in color, often with faint black spots or stripes. Only the male has a black throat fringed with a violet iridescent feather.