Gray-chinned Hermit
Gray-chinned Hermit (Phaethornis griseogularis)
Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis comes from Phaethon, the son of Helios in Greek mythology, symbolizing “radiance” or “light.” The specific name griseogularis means “gray-throated” in Latin (griseus = gray, gula = throat), directly referencing the species’ characteristic ashy-gray chin and throat.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 11–12.5 cm (4.3–4.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: 3.5–4.5 g (0.12–0.16 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes and foothills of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil
🧭 Elevation: 300–2,000 m (980–6,600 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid foothill and montane forest, forest edge, and ravines
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae “Hermits”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Three subspecies:
1. Phaethornis griseogularis griseogularis
Distribution: Andes of Venezuela (Mérida) and northern Colombia south through Ecuador to northern Peru (San Martín and Amazonas).
2. Phaethornis griseogularis zonura
Distribution: Foothills of northern and western Colombia, extending into western Ecuador; tends to occur at slightly lower elevations.
3. Phaethornis griseogularis aethopyga
Distribution: Eastern foothills of Peru, extending marginally into western Brazil (Acre).
Species Overview
The Gray-chinned Hermit is a slender, graceful hummingbird often encountered in the understory of humid Andean foothill forests. Though not brightly colored, its subtle iridescence, long curved bill, and characteristic gray throat make it a distinctive and elegant member of the hermit group. It is typically solitary, following regular feeding routes (traplines) between favored flowers deep in shaded habitats.
Male Description:
The male has bronze-green upperparts, a grayish-white throat and chest, and rufous underparts that deepen toward the belly. The tail is dark bronze with white terminal spots, and the central feathers are elongated and pointed. The bill is long and decurved with a black upper mandible and pale yellow lower base.
Female Description:
The female resembles the male but is slightly duller and paler below, with a shorter tail and less prominent white tips.
Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits humid foothill and montane forests, especially ravines, forest understories, and streamside vegetation between 300–2,000 meters. Feeds primarily on nectar from tubular flowers of Heliconia, Costus, and Psychotria, and supplements its diet with small insects. Like other hermits, it follows a traplining feeding circuit rather than defending a single territory. Its song is a soft, repetitive series of whistles or trills, often delivered from a concealed perch.
Conservation Note:
The Gray-chinned Hermit is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common and widespread across much of its range. It tolerates moderate habitat disturbance and occurs in numerous protected regions, including Henri Pittier National Park (Venezuela), Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador), and Cordillera Azul National Park (Peru). Continued protection of humid Andean foothill forests ensures the survival of this understated but ecologically important Phaethornis species.
Below is the Gray-chinned Hermit (Phaethornis griseogularis zonura)
Photographed at Refugio del Colibrí Espátula, Amazonas, Peru
This individual belongs to the subspecies zonura, which occurs along the eastern slopes of the Andes in eastern Colombia, Ecuador, northern and eastern Peru, and adjacent western Brazil. It inhabits humid foothill and lowland forest, especially along streams and shady understory between 300 and 1,500 meters elevation.
