Black-throated Hermit

Peru

Jul 17

Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis)

Name Origin:
The genus name Phaethornis comes from the Greek Phaethon, meaning “shining” or “radiant,” referencing the glittering plumage of many hermits. The species name atrimentalis combines the Latin ater meaning “black” and mentum meaning “chin,” referring to the bird’s dark throat patch.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in)
⚖️ Weight: 4–5 g (0.14–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
🧭 Elevation: 200–1,200 m (660–3,940 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid foothill forest, forest edges, and secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithini "Hermits" (long-billed forest hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Subspecies & Distribution

1. P. a. atrimentalis
Distribution: Eastern Andes of Colombia and Ecuador south into northern Peru (Loreto).

2. P. a. riojae
Distribution: Foothills of central Peru, from San Martín south to Pasco.

Species Overview

The Black-throated Hermit is a medium-sized hermit hummingbird of the eastern Andean foothills. Its long, decurved bill, rich brown plumage, and black throat make it one of the most easily recognized Phaethornis species in its range. It typically occupies the humid forest understory and riverine vegetation, moving deliberately among clusters of flowers.

Male Description:
The male has olive-brown upperparts, a black throat bordered by pale buff, and cinnamon underparts shading to rufous on the flanks and undertail. The long, decurved bill is black above and reddish below. The tail is dark bronze with broad white tips on the outer feathers, typical of hermits.

Female Description:
The female is similar to the male but has a paler throat, less distinct black patch, and slightly longer bill. Her underparts may be more buffy or grayish. Females tend to forage lower in the understory, often visiting flowers close to the ground.

Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid foothill forests and forest edges, typically between 200 and 1,200 meters. It feeds primarily on nectar from understory flowers, including Heliconia, Costus, and Psychotria, and captures small insects for protein. Like other hermits, it practices trap-lining—visiting a circuit of feeding sites in regular sequence. Its flight is steady and accompanied by a soft humming buzz, and its song is a series of short, nasal notes.

Conservation Note:
The Black-throated Hermit is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population across its range. While locally affected by deforestation and agricultural expansion, it remains adaptable within secondary forest and regenerating habitats. Protection of foothill rainforest corridors and flower-rich understory vegetation supports this distinctive Andean hermit and the pollination networks it serves.

Below is the Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis atrimentalis)

Photographed at Morro de Calzada Amazon Center and Waqanki / Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru

This individual belongs to the nominate subspecies atrimentalis, which occurs along the eastern Andean foothills of southern Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. It inhabits humid forest understory and edge zones between 400 and 1,200 meters, where it forages among Heliconia, Costus, and other tubular flowers.