Stripe-throated Hermit

Overview

The stripe-throated hermit (Phaethornis striigularis) is a small hummingbird found in Central America and north-western South America. It is generally fairly common and is classified as Least Concern by BirdLife International.

Identification

• Measures 9–10 cm in length and weighs between 2–3 g, making it one of the smaller hermits.
• Wing-coverts, mantle, nape and crown are dull iridescent green, while the rump is pale rufous and the belly and flanks are buff.
• The throat is pale greyish brown with faint dark streaks, set against a blackish 'bandit-mask' bordered by whitish-buff supercilia and malar areas.
• Possesses a long, decurved bill that is entirely black except for the basal half of the lower mandible, which is yellow.
• The male song is high-pitched, squeaky and monotonous, though its exact structure varies across the range.

Habitat

Found in southern Mexico, Belize, north-eastern Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, parts of Colombia, western Ecuador and north-eastern Venezuela. It inhabits a wide range of wooded habitats such as forest, woodland, clearings, thickets and gardens, typically in humid regions but occasionally in drier, deciduous areas. Mainly a lowland and foothills species, it is essentially resident, though local movements may occur.

Diet

Feeds on flower nectar obtained by trap-lining, and may also pierce the base of flowers to access nectar that is otherwise out of reach. Occasionally consumes small insects and typically forages fairly low, only occasionally reaching canopy level.

Did you know?

Males gather at leks to sing and attract females, where they perform in what is essentially a communal display arena despite the species being generally solitary outside of breeding contexts.