Green Hermit
Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy)
Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis comes from the Greek words phaethon meaning “shining” and ornis meaning “bird.” The species name guy honors Guy de Charency, a French naturalist and collector.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 13.5 cm (5.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: 6.3 g (0.22 oz)
🌎 Range: Costa Rica and Panama south through the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; also northeastern Venezuela and Trinidad
🧭 Elevation: 100–1,800 m (330–5,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid forest understory, ravines, and streamside vegetation
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae “Hermits”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Four subspecies:
Phaethornis guy coruscus
Distribution: Costa Rica south to northwestern Colombia.Phaethornis guy emiliae
Distribution: Colombia, mainly in the river valleys of all three Andean ranges.Phaethornis guy apicalis
Distribution: Eastern Andes from northwestern Venezuela (Lara) and Colombia south to southeastern Peru; also the Sierra de Perijá.Phaethornis guy guy
Distribution: Mountains of northeastern Venezuela and the island of Trinidad.
Species Overview
The Green Hermit is a medium-sized, forest-dwelling hummingbird with a decurved bill and long white-tipped tail streamers. It follows a trap-line foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants. Males gather at leks in shaded ravines to display for females.
Male Description:
Metallic green upperparts, a black face mask bordered by pale buff lines above and below, and a bluish rump. Underparts are dusky gray with a central buff stripe. Tail is long with broad white tips on the central feathers. The bill is long, slender, and decurved.
Female Description:
Similar to the male but duller overall, with a longer bill and less iridescence. Underparts are more grayish and less distinctly marked.
Habitat & Behavior:
Occupies humid lowland and foothill forests, especially along streams and in ravines. Forages along a trap-line route and takes small insects. Males gather at leks to perform short shuttle flights for females. Nests are suspended under large leaves, often near water.
Conservation Note:
The Green Hermit is widespread and considered stable, but dependent on intact forest with rich understory. Local declines may occur with heavy deforestation. Protection of stream corridors and mid-elevation forest is important for its long-term survival.
Below is the Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy emiliae)
Photographed at:
Finca Alejandría "El Paraiso de Los Colibries", Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Finca La Araucana, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
These individuals belong to the subspecies emiliae, which is found in the river valleys of Colombia's three Andean ranges. It inhabits humid forest and ravine zones, particularly in transitional foothill elevations. Compared to other forms, it shows slightly shorter bill and tail streamers, and the underparts are typically darker with a more grayish tone.
Below is the Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy coruscus)
Photographed at:
Catarata del Toro, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Nectar & Pollen Reserve, Limón, Costa Rica
Hotel Quelitales, Cartago, Costa Rica
These individuals belong to the subspecies coruscus, which ranges from Costa Rica south into northwestern Colombia. It inhabits humid forest understory and stream corridors from the lowlands up into foothill zones. This form is slightly larger than others, with a longer bill and tail streamers, and may show a subtle green wash on the underparts.
Below is the Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy guy)
Photographed at:
Café Mariposa Gardens, Tunapuna-Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago
Yerette Home of the Hummingbird, Tunapuna-Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago
This individual belongs to the nominate subspecies guy, found in the mountains of northeastern Venezuela and on the island of Trinidad. It favors humid mountain forest and stream corridors. As the reference form for the species, it features strong contrast between the dark green upperparts and grayish underparts, with bold buff facial stripes and prominent white-tipped tail streamers.
Below is the Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy apicalis)
Photographed at:
Bosque de Protección Alto Mayo--Llanteria/Afluente vicinity, San Martín, Peru
This individual belongs to the subspecies apicalis, which occurs on the eastern slope of the Andes from northwestern Venezuela through Colombia and south into southeastern Peru. It is typically found in humid lower montane forest. This form is slightly smaller overall, with sexes appearing more similar; the underparts tend to be darker, and the tail and bill are of moderate length.
