Phaethornis philippii
The Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii) is a medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 12.5 to 13.5 cm in length, with a long, relatively straight bill of about 3.8 to 4.5 cm, and weighing between 4 and 6 grams. Its upperparts are a dull bronzy-green, contrasting with a rufous rump and buffy-ochre to rich rufous underparts. Distinctive field marks include a dark mask extending through the eye, bordered above by a buffy supercilium and below by a buffy malar stripe, giving its...
Found primarily in humid lowland evergreen forests, especially along riverine areas, seasonally flooded forests (várzea), and forest borders, typically at elevations below 500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on nectar, obtained through traplining from various long-tubed flowers, particularly those from the Heliconiaceae, Zingiberaceae, and Costaceae families. Supplements its diet with small arthropods, including spiders and insects, gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Needle-billed Hermits are diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often resting inconspicuously within the dense understory during midday heat. They employ a 'traplining' foraging strategy, repeatedly visiting a circuit of dispersed, nectar-rich flowers over an extensive home range. Males engage in le...
The Needle-billed Hermit is a resident species found exclusively within the lowlands of the western Amazon Basin, showcasing no significant migratory patterns. Its primary distribution encompasses eastern Peru (particularly the departments of Loreto, Ucayali, and Madre de Dios), southwestern Braz...
Least Concern
- The 'Needle-billed' name aptly describes its relatively straight, slender bill, which sets it apart from many other hermit hummingbirds with more strongly decurved bills. - Males sing from widely dispersed leks within the forest understory, a common breeding strategy among hermit hummingbirds. ...