Birds Guide

Hermit
The Saw-billed Hermit (Ramphodon naevius) is among the most primitive living hummingbird species.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae   Subfamily: Phaethornithinae Jardine, 1833
Genera
Ramphodon Eutoxeres Glaucis Threnetes Anopetia Phaethornis

The Hermits are tropical hummingbirds in the subfamily Phaethornithinae, comprising about 34 species in six genera.

Their plumage typically involves greens, browns, rufous or grey. They lack the iridescent plumage of many other hummingbird species, and the male and female plumages of hermits are often very similar, only a few species showing the strong sexual dimorphism usually associated with hummingbirds.

Hermits in the main genus, Phaethornis, have a long decurved bill with a red or yellow base to the lower mandible, and their two central tail feathers are elongated and tipped with white. The crown of the head is flat, and two pale facial stripes enclose a dusky mask.

Hermits usually form leks and congregate on traditional display grounds, where females visit to choose a mate. However, male hermits are less aggressively territorial than other male hummingbirds.

Hermits are closely associated with heliconias. The flowers are an important food source accessible to the long decurved bill typical of this group of forest hummingbirds. Many species, including the Rufous-breasted Hermit, also use the plant for nesting, attaching their conical nest to the underside of one of the plant’s broad leaves.

Species

• Genus Ramphodon
  • Saw-billed Hermit, Ramphodon naevius

• Genus Eutoxeres
  • White-tipped Sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila
    Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Eutoxeres condamini

• Genus Glaucis
  • Hook-billed Hermit, Glaucis dohrnii
    Rufous-breasted Hermit, Glaucis hirsuta
    Bronzy Hermit, Glaucis aenea

• Genus Threnetes
  • Band-tailed Barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri
    Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Threnetes niger

• Genus Anopetia
  • Broad-tipped Hermit, Anopetia gounellei

• Genus Phaethornis
  • White-whiskered Hermit, Phaethornis yaruqui
    Green Hermit, Phaethornis guy
    White-bearded Hermit, Phaethornis hispidus
  • Long-billed Hermit, Phaethornis longirostris
    • Mexican Hermit, Phaethornis (longirostris) mexicanus
    • Baron's Hermit, Phaethornis (longirostris) baroni
  • Long-tailed Hermit, Phaethornis superciliosus
    Great-billed Hermit, Phaethornis malaris
    Tawny-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis syrmatophorus
    Koepcke's Hermit, Phaethornis koepckeae
    Needle-billed Hermit, Phaethornis philippii
    Straight-billed Hermit, Phaethornis bourcieri
    Pale-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis anthophilus
    Scale-throated Hermit, Phaethornis eurynome
    Planalto Hermit, Phaethornis pretrei
    Sooty-capped Hermit, Phaethornis augusti
    Buff-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis subochraceus
    Dusky-throated Hermit, Phaethornis squalidus
    Streak-throated Hermit, Phaethornis rupurumii
    Little Hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus
    Minute Hermit, Phaethornis idaliae
    Cinnamon-throated Hermit, Phaethornis nattereri
    Reddish Hermit, Phaethornis ruber
    White-browed Hermit, Phaethornis stuarti
    Black-throated Hermit, Phaethornis atrimentalis
  • Stripe-throated Hermit, Phaethornis striigularis
    • Dusky Hermit, Phaethornis (striigularis) saturatus
  • Gray-chinned Hermit, Phaethornis griseogularis

References

• del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors) (1999): Handbook of Birds of the World, Volume 5: Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-25-3

• ffrench, Richard; O'Neill, John Patton & Eckelberry, Don R. (2003): A guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6759-1

• Hilty, Steven L. (2003): Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5

• Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander Frank (1989): A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Comistock, Ithaca. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4