Phaethornis anthophilus
The Pale-bellied Hermit, *Phaethornis anthophilus*, is a distinctive member of the hummingbird family (Trochilidae) and the hermit subfamily (Phaethornithinae), characterized by its relatively straight bill and pale underparts. This small but robust hummingbird typically measures between 9.0 and 10.5 cm in length and weighs 3.0-5.5 grams. Its upperparts are a dull olive-green, contrasting sharply with its diagnostic pale grayish-white belly and chest, giving it its common name. Key identifica...
Typically found in humid to semi-arid evergreen and deciduous forests, forest edges, secondary growth, and coffee plantations. Occurs from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters in elevation.
Primarily feeds on nectar extracted from a variety of long-tubed flowers, especially those pollinated by hummingbirds. Supplements its diet with small arthropods, such as spiders and insects, gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Pale-bellied Hermits are diurnal and generally solitary, typically roosting singly in dense undergrowth. They are classic 'trapliners,' following regular routes to visit widely scattered nectar sources repeatedly throughout the day. Males sing from inconspicuous low perches within the understory ...
The Pale-bellied Hermit is a resident species found across northern South America and eastern Panama, with a non-migratory distribution. Its primary range includes parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and extreme northern Brazil. Specifically, the nominate subspecies *P. a. anthophi...
Least Concern
- The Pale-bellied Hermit is a classic example of a 'traplining' hummingbird, meticulously following established routes to visit a series of dispersed flowers over and over. - Its nest is a marvel of engineering: a conical cup of plant fibers and spider silk suspended from the underside of a larg...