Rivoli's Hummingbird vs Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Rivoli's Hummingbird

Eugenes fulgens

How to recognise a Rivoli's hummingbird?

General appearance

Rivoli's hummingbird is a large hummingbird with a straight, medium-length bill and vibrant plumage. Its deep green upperparts, combined with the iridescent emerald-purple crown, make it distinctive. The throat can appear black in dim light, which contrasts sharply with the rest of its vibrant plumage. When in flight, their wings beat rapidly, producing a unique humming sound.

Male vs female

Males are vividly colored with an emerald-green crown and throat, while their underparts are often darker. Females, on the other hand, have more muted colorations, lacking the vibrant green on the crown and throat; instead, they display a more subdued grayish-green. Both sexes have white spots behind the eyes. During the breeding season, males can be seen performing aerial displays to attract females.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rivoli's hummingbirds closely resemble females in coloration, typically displaying more subdued tones and less iridescence. They lack the striking crown feathers of the adult males. As they mature, the plumage becomes more vibrant. Juveniles might show gradual development of iridescent feathers typically as they transition into adulthood, especially noticeable during their first molting period.

Size

4.3 - 5.5 in/0.2 - 0.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Rivoli's hummingbird favours mountain glades and pine-oak woods, primarily at elevations of 5,000-9,000 feet. It typically occupies shaded canyons with sycamore and maple trees, or open hillsides within pine-oak woodlands.

Additional range

Additionally, this hummingbird can be found in the coniferous forest of higher mountains in the southwestern U.S. Unlike the Blue-throated Hummingbird, it is less restricted to streamsides, indicating a wider habitat range.

Range Map

What do Rivoli's hummingbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

Rivoli's hummingbird primarily consumes nectar from flowers as a main component of its diet. Additionally, it actively forages for insects, supplementing its nectar intake. The bird is known to perch in wooded areas, where it watches for insects and subsequently flies out to capture them mid-air. This behavior demonstrates its reliance on both nectar and insects as natural food sources.

Bird feeders

Rivoli's hummingbird is known to frequent bird feeders, particularly those offering sugar-water mixtures. These feeders are often designed to mimic the nectar they naturally consume from flowers, providing an easily accessible food source that they regularly utilize in addition to their natural dietary habits.

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Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

How to recognise a black-chinned hummingbird?

General appearance

The Black-chinned Hummingbird is about the size of a Sparrow, measuring approximately 3 3/4 inches (10 cm). Its most distinguishing colors are black, green, purple, and white. The bird's wings are narrow, rounded, and short, and its tail is multi-pointed, notched, rounded, and square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male's distinguishing feature is a black chin which is difficult to see. Below the black chin, there is a more discernible white collar and a purple band. The female Black-chinned Hummingbird, on the other hand, is nearly identical to the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Distinguishing features include a long bill, pale underparts, and specific callnotes.

Juvenile

No specific information is available for the appearance of juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Considering hummingbirds as a species, juveniles often resemble the adult female until they achieve full adult plumage. Keep an eye out for the specific characteristics of the species, such as coloration and callnotes, when trying to identify juveniles.

Size

3.7 - 4.1 in/0.1 - 0.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The black-chinned hummingbird breeds in a variety of semi-arid, semi-open habitats, from suburbs to stream sides and brushy areas.

Additional range

In the southwest, it thrives along dense desert washes and rivers. Post-breeding, it can move to higher mountain elevations.

Range Map

What do black-chinned hummingbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The black-chinned hummingbird primarily feeds on nectar obtained from various flowers. In addition to nectar, its natural diet includes tiny insects, which provide essential proteins and nutrients not found in nectar alone.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the black-chinned hummingbird often consumes sugar-water mixtures which mimic the nectar found in flowers. These feeders provide an additional food source, especially when flowers are less abundant.

What does a black-chinned hummingbird sound like?

The black-chinned hummingbird exhibits a variety of vocalizations. Its typical calls consist of a low 'tup'. It also exhibits a pattern flat call, used in different contexts. Other vocalizations include a 'buzz', a lively 'chirp/chip' or a distinct 'trill'. These different sounds constitute this hummingbird's complex vocal communication.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call

Audio by Francis C, Ortega C, Cruz A

/ CC BY-SA 2.5

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Rivoli's Hummingbird

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Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Rivoli's Hummingbird

Eugenes fulgens

General appearance

Rivoli's hummingbird is a large hummingbird with a straight, medium-length bill and vibrant plumage. Its deep green upperparts, combined with the iridescent emerald-purple crown, make it distinctive. The throat can appear black in dim light, which contrasts sharply with the rest of its vibrant plumage. When in flight, their wings beat rapidly, producing a unique humming sound.

Male vs female

Males are vividly colored with an emerald-green crown and throat, while their underparts are often darker. Females, on the other hand, have more muted colorations, lacking the vibrant green on the crown and throat; instead, they display a more subdued grayish-green. Both sexes have white spots behind the eyes. During the breeding season, males can be seen performing aerial displays to attract females.

Juvenile

Juvenile Rivoli's hummingbirds closely resemble females in coloration, typically displaying more subdued tones and less iridescence. They lack the striking crown feathers of the adult males. As they mature, the plumage becomes more vibrant. Juveniles might show gradual development of iridescent feathers typically as they transition into adulthood, especially noticeable during their first molting period.

Size

4.3 - 5.5 in/0.2 - 0.4 oz

There's more to learn about Rivoli's Hummingbird

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Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

General appearance

The Black-chinned Hummingbird is about the size of a Sparrow, measuring approximately 3 3/4 inches (10 cm). Its most distinguishing colors are black, green, purple, and white. The bird's wings are narrow, rounded, and short, and its tail is multi-pointed, notched, rounded, and square-tipped.

Male vs female

The male's distinguishing feature is a black chin which is difficult to see. Below the black chin, there is a more discernible white collar and a purple band. The female Black-chinned Hummingbird, on the other hand, is nearly identical to the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Distinguishing features include a long bill, pale underparts, and specific callnotes.

Juvenile

No specific information is available for the appearance of juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbirds. Considering hummingbirds as a species, juveniles often resemble the adult female until they achieve full adult plumage. Keep an eye out for the specific characteristics of the species, such as coloration and callnotes, when trying to identify juveniles.

Size

3.7 - 4.1 in/0.1 - 0.2 oz

There's more to learn about Black-Chinned Hummingbird

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How to tell the Rivoli's Hummingbird from the Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Visual differences

Rivoli's Hummingbird is larger, measuring 4.3-5.5 inches in length and weighing 0.21-0.35 ounces, compared to the Black-Chinned's 3.7-4.1 inches and 0.09-0.18 ounces. Rivoli's males have an iridescent emerald-green crown and throat, while the Black-Chinned male has a harder-to-see black chin with an iridescent purple strip. Rivoli's also has white spots behind the eyes. Both species have medium-length bills, but Rivoli's is straight. These key features, along with their unique plumage and size, aid in identification.

Key differences and behavior

Rivoli's Hummingbird and Black-Chinned Hummingbird exhibit distinct behavioral and ecological differences. Rivoli's, a larger, gentle species (0.4-0.5 oz, 4.3-5.5 in), inhabits mountainous pine-oak forests. Known for "traplining," they follow consistent routes between flower patches, drinking nectar with their long bills. Conversely, the smaller Black-Chinned Hummingbird (0.09-0.18 oz, 3.7-4.1 in) thrives in semi-arid and desert habitats, exhibiting territoriality at feeders and flowers. They perform dramatic U-shaped flight displays during courtship, while Rivoli's males sing and chase rivals. Both species consume nectar and insects, frequenting feeders. Rivoli's nests higher (10-60 ft) than Black-Chinned (typically 4-8 ft), with females primarily handling nesting in both species.