The Black-chinned Hummer 
No. tSf» 
Black-chinned Hammer 
A. 0 . U. No, 429. Archilochus alexandrj ( Bonder and Mulsant). 
Synonyms.—Sro?:cs Hammer. Alexaxdke' Hummer. 
Description. I <*/</■ ■r.alr: Upperpnrts including central pair of tail-feathers, 
black, overlaid with shining bronzy green and blue-green; wing-quills and remaining 
rectrices purplish dusky; wing-quills di-.rpi/ and diagonally truncated; tail double- 
rounded, the central pair of feathers broad and mildly acuminate, about .12 (4 mm) 
shorter than remaining feathers, which . mirror, and sharply acuminate; gorget chiefly 
opaque velvet) black, the posterior poH.-.c --hawing rich violet reflections: under parts 
chiefly dusky. - n .-ides heavily overlaid with pronzy green with narrow white skirtings, 
elsewhere more relieved by Hike edging; wui iometimes attaining clearness on middle 
of belly and (usually) sharply defining lower edge of gorget. Bill slender, straight, 
black . leer hi ■ k. Aai'.U ftnwli l 'pperparts similar >.o those of male; but underparts 
ciiieily sot did w hire some ni .away or dusky shading on sides; throat nearly immacu¬ 
late, or fine! and sparingly speckled with dusky; rail quite different; central pair of 
feathers much ar< in male, the remaining pairs much broader, greenish at base, purplish 
brack subtirminnliy broadly and ci creasingly tipped with white, the outermost feather 
nor noticeably emarginate on the inner web fas is the case with A. colubris ): primaries 
somewhat more rounded. Y-nt>:; male: kike adult female, but feathers of upperparts 
edg.d v, ilk paie buff-. : .-re! underpat is more strongly suffused with pale brownish; throat 
Hummer 
Male and female, about life size 
From d w'aler-cnhr fainting f;j- Major Allan Brooks 
characters 1 t It male ■ ms> in lighter coloration of underparts, the reduced (or wanting) 
speckling of thro, and tie mw blended shading of sides of head and neck (or breast, 
when shaded). 
Nesting.— Xesl: Typically. f; deep, thin-walled cup with incurved edges, and 
composed exclusively •:>/ tlie pubescev.. doe, -■: etny. sycamort leaves, bound together 
with cobwebs, in default of this yellow materia! the bird will use white plant-downs, 
or compacted shreds variously decorated and lined. Placed on slender descending 
twigs or horizontal branches o! bush or tree, usually at moderate heights and often 
over water. Eggs: 2; white, elliptical oval, often blunt-ended. Av. of 53 (U. S-. X. M.) 
12.7x8.3 (.30 x .33). Sea u>/i: May, June (at height about May 10th); one or, rarely, 
two broods. 
General Range.—Western North America, breeding in Sonoran and Transition 
:••• e- Iron; northern Low*. Cr.bfornia and northern Mexico north to British Columbia 
'• ’ ui'!: 1 ;-ni Alberta, anti from the Pacific Coast (save for the northwestern coastal 
no! to v .-stern Montane, western Colorado, and west-centra! Texas: wintering 
in we.-torn .Mexico south to Guerrero. 
DiMftbn..:cH in California. •< ommon summer resident in Upper and Lower 
tout ; -.irmly :i:..-ou-rhou; Si.to.-. Most abundant in San Diegan dis- 
Nut loot'd in humid • ;d v north of San Francisco Bay, nor upon the 
0-1’ a i-i.i- 1-. \\ inu-i-- . 1 !u C< f.rn k. Desert (Grinncll). 
Black-churned 
