Black-chinned Hummingbirds in Oklahoma
When black-chinned hummingbirds are present in Oklahoma, when they nest, which native Oklahoma plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Oklahoma
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect black-chinned hummingbirds in Oklahoma
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer residents in Oklahoma, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar and gnats.
Humid in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.
Nesting in Oklahoma
Across Oklahoma, black-chinned hummingbirds typically nest from April–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.
Hot summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.
- Black-chinned Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as trumpet honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, coral bean for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Oklahoma plants that attract black-chinned hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Oklahoma, these 8 provide food or cover black-chinned hummingbirds use:
Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.
Large orange trumpets through midsummer.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Red tubular spring flowers for early hummingbirds.
Blooms right as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Feeding black-chinned hummingbirds through the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma'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 Oklahoma year-round?
No. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Oklahoma and leave for the winter.
When do black-chinned hummingbirds nest in Oklahoma?
Nesting in Oklahoma typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 12–16 days.
What native plants attract black-chinned hummingbirds in Oklahoma?
Trumpet honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Oklahoma that provide food or cover for black-chinned hummingbirds.
Black-chinned Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Oklahoma
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 — Oklahoma
- 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.