Black-chinned Hummingbirds in Arizona
When black-chinned hummingbirds are present in Arizona, when they nest, which native Arizona plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–10b yard.
- Status in Arizona
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- March–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–10b
When to expect black-chinned hummingbirds in Arizona
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer residents in Arizona, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar and gnats.
Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Arizona
Across Arizona, black-chinned hummingbirds typically nest from March–July. Nest site: tiny cup in riparian trees. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 12–16 days, and young leave the nest after 21 days.
Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
- Black-chinned Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as golden currant, desert willow, ocotillo for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Arizona plants that attract black-chinned hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover black-chinned hummingbirds use:
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Red trumpets for Broad-tailed and Rufous hummingbirds.
Blue-violet spikes favored by Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.
Orchid-like flowers through summer for hummingbirds and orioles.
Red spring flower spikes timed to hummingbird and oriole migration.
Feeding black-chinned hummingbirds through the Arizona year
The common summer hummingbird of Texas Hill Country and the desert Southwest; pumps its tail while hovering.
- Best foods: Sugar water 1:4.
- In Arizona's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for black-chinned hummingbirds · Best feeder for black-chinned hummingbirds
Frequently asked
Are black-chinned hummingbirds in Arizona year-round?
No. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Arizona and leave for the winter.
When do black-chinned hummingbirds nest in Arizona?
Nesting in Arizona typically runs March–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 12–16 days.
What native plants attract black-chinned hummingbirds in Arizona?
Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Scarlet gilia, Rocky Mountain penstemon, Desert willow, Ocotillo are native plants in Arizona that provide food or cover for black-chinned hummingbirds.
Black-chinned Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Arizona
Sources
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-chinned Hummingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.