Phaethornis augusti
The Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti) is a striking medium-sized hummingbird, measuring about 12.0-13.0 cm (4.7-5.1 in) in length and weighing between 4.0-6.0 g. Its plumage is characterized by a dusky olive-brown to sooty-gray cap, a dark mask across the eye bordered by buffy superciliary and malar stripes, and an iridescent bronze-green back. The underparts are rufous to cinnamon, often brightest on the throat and flanks, fading to a paler belly. Distinctive field marks include its ...
This species primarily inhabits humid to semi-humid evergreen and deciduous forests, forest edges, and secondary growth, often associated with dense understory. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 400 to 2,000 meters, occasionally lower or higher.
The primary diet consists of nectar, extracted from a variety of long-tubed flowers using its specialized bill and long tongue. It also consumes small arthropods, including spiders and insects, which provide essential protein, captured by gleaning or hawking.
Sooty-capped Hermits are largely solitary and diurnal, often observed actively foraging throughout the day. They are classic 'trapliners,' systematically visiting a circuit of nectar sources, sometimes revisiting them multiple times an hour. Males engage in lek-like behavior, gathering in small g...
The Sooty-capped Hermit boasts a wide distribution across northern South America, primarily within mountainous and hilly regions. Its breeding range extends from the coastal cordillera and eastern Andes of Venezuela, south through the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. It also occ...
Least Concern
- The Sooty-capped Hermit is a 'trapliner,' meticulously following a regular route of nectar-rich flowers over distances, an efficient foraging strategy. - Its nest is a true architectural marvel, a cone-shaped cup often adorned with mosses and lichen, suspended from the tip of a downward-hanging...