Its central pair of tail feathers are bronze green and the rest black with a faint bluish or bronzy gloss.

The rest of its underparts are deep brownish gray with some metallic bronze green gloss except on the belly.

The undertail coverts are metallic bronze green with wide brownish gray edges to the feathers.

[5] The nominate subspecies of emerald-chinned hummingbird is found discontinuously from Veracruz in southern Mexico through Guatemala into northern Honduras.

In addition to nectar, the species feeds on small insects that it gleans from flowers, leaves, and tree trunks while hovering.

[5] The IUCN has assessed the emerald-chinned hummingbird as being of Least Concern, though it population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing.

"The primary threats to this species are logging of mature forests, and habitat conversion for agriculture and livestock production.