Glaucis aeneus
The Bronzy Hermit (Glaucis aeneus) is a captivating medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring 9.5-10.5 cm (3.7-4.1 in) in length and weighing 3-7 grams (0.11-0.25 oz). Its plumage is characterized by a bronzy-green back and crown, with dull rufous underparts that fade to grayish on the belly. A distinctive feature is its long, strongly decurved bill, which is mostly dark on the upper mandible and shows a pale mandible with a dark tip on the lower. It exhibits a dark eye stripe bordered by...
Primarily found in humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, forest edges, secondary growth, and coffee plantations, typically from sea level up to 1000 meters (3,300 feet).
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of tubular flowers, especially heliconias, gingers, and passionflowers, supplemented by small arthropods (insects and spiders) caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Bronzy Hermits are diurnal, actively foraging throughout the day and roosting solitarily at night, often hanging head-down from a slender twig or root. Their foraging strategy is characterized by "trap-lining," where individuals repeatedly visit a fixed circuit of nectar-producing flowers over a ...
The Bronzy Hermit's range extends across Central America and northwestern South America, from eastern Honduras south through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It is primarily a resident species throughout its distribution, exhibiting no signifi...
Least Concern
- The Bronzy Hermit's long, strongly decurved bill is perfectly adapted for reaching nectar deep within specific tubular flowers, a classic example of co-evolution. - Like many hermits, it employs a "trap-lining" foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowers over a wide area rather tha...