Hermit (hummingbird)

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Hermit
Ramphodon naevius-2.jpg
The saw-billed hermit (Ramphodon naevius) is among the most primitive living hummingbird species.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Subfamily: Phaethornithinae
Jardine, 1833
Genera

See text

The hermits are tropical and subtropical hummingbirds in the subfamily Phaethornithinae, comprising 37 species in six genera. They occur from southern Mexico, through Central America, to South America as far south as northern Argentina.

Their plumage typically involves greens, browns, rufous or grey. Most species show some green or bronze iridescence to the upperparts, but this is far less conspicuous than that of many other hummingbirds. The male and female plumages of hermits are very similar, with differences limited to details of bill-shape, tail-shape and/or strength of colours/patterns. Most species of hermit do not show the strong sexual dimorphism usually associated with hummingbirds; green hermit is an exception to this rule.

Hermits in the type genus, Phaethornis , have a long decurved bill (except for three species, P. koepkeae, P. philippii and P. bourcieri, with virtually straight bills) with a red or yellow base to the lower mandible, and their two central tail feathers are elongated and tipped with white, buff or ochre. The crown of the head is flat, and two pale facial stripes enclose a dusky mask.

Most hermits are restricted to the edge and undergrowth of forest, woodland and second growth, but some species (e.g. the planalto hermit) also occur in more open habitats.

Many species of hermits form leks and congregate on traditional display grounds, where females visit to choose a mate. Male hermits are generally less aggressive than other male hummingbirds, although both sexes will defend a feeding territory.

Most hermits are associated with heliconias, but will utilize other nectar sources (flowers of Centropogon , Passiflora , Costus , etc.). To a lesser degree, they will capture small arthropods. The long, decurved bills typical of this group of hummingbirds are an adaptation to certain flowers. This is taken to an extreme in the two sicklebills ( Eutoxeres spp.) with their very decurved bills. Many species, including the rufous-breasted hermit, also use the heliconias for nesting, attaching their conical nest to the underside of one of the plant's broad leaves.

Phaethornithinae
Phylogeny based on a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014. The genus Anopetia was not sampled. [1]

The taxonomy of some groups has changed significantly in recent years. Apart from those issues discussed at Phaethornis , a taxonomic problem occurs with the Threnetes leucurus/T. niger complex. Schuchmann & Hinkelmann (1999) considered the sooty barbthroat a melanistic variant of the T. leucurus, but as it was described first, its scientific name was adopted for the entire species; pale-tailed barbthroat (T. niger). This, however, has not been accepted by all authorities, notably SACC, which consider both T. niger and T. leucurus as valid species. Additionally, Mallet-Rodrigues (2006) suggested the taxon loehkeni should be considered a valid species, the bronze-tailed barbthroat.

Three additional species, the tooth-billed hummingbird (Androdon aequatorialis), the green-fronted lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae) and the blue-fronted lancebill (D. johannae), have been included in this subfamily in the past, but are now placed in Trochilinae.

Species in taxonomic order

ImageGenusLiving species
Saw-billed Hermit Ramphodon naevius.jpg Ramphodon Lesson, 1830
White-tipped Sicklebill.jpg Eutoxeres Bourcier, 1847
Bronzy Hermit (3529655516) (cropped).jpg Glaucis Boie, 1831
Band-tailed Barbthroat (Threnetes ruckeri).jpg Threnetes Gould, 1852
Broad-tipped Hermit Anopetia gounellei.jpg Anopetia Simon, 1918
Eastern Long-tailed Hermit - Rio Tigre - Costa Rica MG 8436 (26084791724).jpg Phaethornis Swainson, 1827

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-breasted hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The rufous-breasted hermit or hairy hermit is a hummingbird that breeds from Panama south to Bolivia, and on Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada. It is a widespread and generally common species, though local populations may change in numbers and disappear altogether in marginal habitat.

<i>Phaethornis</i> Genus of birds

Phaethornis is a genus of hummingbirds in the hermit subfamily, Phaethornithinae. They occur from southern Mexico, through Central America, to South America as far south as northern Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-billed hermit</span> Species of hummingbirdbird

The long-billed hermit is a bird in the family Trochilidae, the hummingbirds. It is found from central Mexico south through Central America, Colombia and Ecuador into Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed hermit</span> Species of bird

The long-tailed hermit is a large hummingbird that is a resident breeder in Venezuela, the Guianas, and north-eastern Brazil. This species was formerly referred to as the eastern long-tailed hermit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band-tailed barbthroat</span> Species of hummingbird

The band-tailed barbthroat is a medium-sized hummingbird that is found from southeastern Guatemala and Belize to western Ecuador and western Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hook-billed hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The hook-billed hermit is a threatened species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is endemic to a small area of Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-bellied hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The pale-bellied hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straight-billed hermit</span> Species of hummiingbird

The straight-billed hermit is a species of bird in the family Trochilidae, the hummingbirds. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scale-throated hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The scale-throated hermit is a species in the hummingbird family Trochilidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-chinned hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The grey-chinned hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great-billed hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The great-billed hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinnamon-throated hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The cinnamon-throated hermit is a species in the hummingbird family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia and Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Needle-billed hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The needle-billed hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky-throated hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The dusky-throated hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is endemic to Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-browed hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The white-browed hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in the Andean foothills and adjacent lowlands in Bolivia and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-tailed barbthroat</span> Species of hummingbird

The pale-tailed barbthroat is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found throughout much of the Amazon Basin from the eastern Andean foothills to the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbthroat</span> Genus of birds

The barbthroats are a genus Threnetes of South American hummingbirds in the family Trochilidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooty barbthroat</span> Species of hummingbird

The sooty barbthroat is a hummingbird species in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Brazil and French Guiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tapajós hermit</span> Species of hummingbird

The Tapajós hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is endemic to Brazil.

References

  1. McGuire, J.; Witt, C.; Remsen, J.V.; Corl, A.; Rabosky, D.; Altshuler, D.; Dudley, R. (2014). "Molecular phylogenetics and the diversification of hummingbirds". Current Biology. 24 (8): 910–916. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.016 .