Phaethornis atrimentalis
The Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis) is a captivating member of the hummingbird family (Trochilidae), specifically within the hermits (Phaethornithinae), known for their unique foraging strategies. This small hummingbird measures approximately 9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 in) in length, including its notably long, decurved bill which is bicolored with a dark maxilla and yellowish-orange mandible. Distinctive field marks include its dusky to blackish throat and upper breast, contrasting wi...
This hermit primarily inhabits the humid understory of evergreen lowland and foothill forests, extending into mature secondary growth and forest edges. It is typically found at elevations ranging from near sea level up to approximately 1,400 meters.
Its diet primarily consists of nectar, extracted from a wide variety of long-tubed flowers, especially those of Heliconia, Centropogon, and Psychotria. It supplements its nectar intake with small arthropods, such as spiders and insects, which are gleaned from foliage or hawked in flight.
The Black-throated Hermit is a diurnal and largely solitary species, known for its methodical trap-lining foraging strategy, where it repeatedly visits a fixed circuit of nectar-producing flowers. Males are famously polygynous, often gathering at small leks to perform a persistent, high-pitched s...
The Black-throated Hermit is a resident species found exclusively in northwestern South America. Its primary range extends along the Pacific slope of Colombia, primarily within the Chocó biogeographic region, continuing south through western Ecuador, and reaching into the extreme northwestern dep...
Least Concern
- The Black-throated Hermit's long, decurved bill is perfectly adapted for probing the deep corollas of specific tropical flowers, showcasing a remarkable co-evolutionary relationship. - Like many hermits, this species is a 'trap-line' forager, meaning it visits a regular circuit of widely disper...