Hook-billed Hermit
Hook-billed Hermit (Glaucis dohrnii)
Name Origin:
The genus Glaucis comes from the Greek glaukos, meaning “bluish-gray” or “gleaming.” The species name dohrnii honors Heinrich Dohrn, a German naturalist who supported biodiversity research in Brazil.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5.0–5.5 g (0.18–0.19 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo and Bahia)
🧭 Elevation: 50–500 m (160–1,600 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Lowland Atlantic Forest, bamboo thickets, forest edge
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae “Hermits”
📊 Status: Vulnerable (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.
Species Overview
The Hook-billed Hermit is a highly localized hummingbird of Brazil’s coastal Atlantic Forest. Known for its distinctively down-curved bill, it forages quietly in dense understory and bamboo thickets. Once feared extinct, it survives in a few scattered remnants of humid lowland forest in Espírito Santo and northern Rio de Janeiro.
Male Description:
Olive-brown upperparts with a rufous rump, pale buff facial stripe, and grayish underparts. Tail broad and white-tipped. Bill is long, thick, and strongly decurved.
Female Description:
Similar to the male but often slightly paler with more pronounced facial markings. Bill curvature is equally strong.
Habitat & Behavior:
Restricted to dense understory of humid Atlantic Forest, especially where bamboo and vines dominate. Forages low, taking nectar from tubular flowers and small insects from leaves. Solitary, quiet, and often inconspicuous. Prefers deep shade and avoids disturbed or open areas.
Conservation Note:
The Hook-billed Hermit is listed as Vulnerable due to severe habitat loss and fragmentation. Its range is restricted to a few forest patches in Espírito Santo and nearby areas. Populations are small and isolated, and much of its original habitat has been cleared for agriculture or development. Protection of remaining forest tracts and habitat restoration are critical to its survival.
