Black-chinned Hummingbirds in Texas
When black-chinned hummingbirds are present in Texas, when they nest, which native Texas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6b–10a yard.
- Status in Texas
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- March–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6b–10a
When to expect black-chinned hummingbirds in Texas
Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer residents in Texas, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on nectar and gnats.
Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.
Nesting in Texas
Across Texas, 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.
Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.
- Black-chinned Hummingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as coral honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, coral bean for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Texas plants that attract black-chinned hummingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Texas, these 8 provide food or cover black-chinned hummingbirds use:
Native tubular red flowers; not the invasive Japanese honeysuckle.
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 Texas 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 Texas'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 Texas year-round?
No. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are summer breeders in Texas and leave for the winter.
When do black-chinned hummingbirds nest in Texas?
Nesting in Texas 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 Texas?
Coral honeysuckle, Trumpet creeper, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Coral bean, Red buckeye, Golden currant, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Texas that provide food or cover for black-chinned hummingbirds.
Black-chinned Hummingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Texas
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 — Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Texas Breeding Bird Atlas — Texas A&M
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.