Ramphodon naevius
The Saw-billed Hermit (Ramphodon naevius) is a strikingly unique and robust hummingbird, measuring approximately 14-16 cm in length and weighing 9-11 grams, making it one of the larger hermit species. Its most distinctive feature, and the origin of its common name, is its long, strongly decurved black bill, which possesses fine serrations along the tomia (cutting edges) – an adaptation rarely seen in hummingbirds. Plumage is predominantly dark brown to olive-brown on the upperparts, contrasti...
This species is primarily found in the dense, humid understory of the Atlantic Forest, favoring primary and well-developed secondary forests from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) elevation.
The Saw-billed Hermit feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, especially long-tubed Heliconias and Bromeliads, supplemented by small arthropods gleaned from foliage and spiderwebs.
The Saw-billed Hermit is a diurnal, solitary species, typically active from dawn to dusk, often perching inconspicuously in the lower to mid-story of the forest. It employs a "trap-lining" foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of widely dispersed flowers, particularly large, long-tubed He...
The Saw-billed Hermit is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern Brazil, with its distribution extending from the state of Espírito Santo south through Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and reaching as far as northeastern Rio Grande do Sul. This fragmen...
Near Threatened
- The Saw-billed Hermit's bill is uniquely serrated along the edges, an adaptation shared by very few other bird species, and virtually unheard of in hummingbirds. - It is one of the heaviest and largest hermit hummingbirds, often weighing over 9 grams, contrasting with many smaller hummingbird s...