Mexican Hermit
Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus)
Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis combines Greek roots for “sun” and “bird,” referencing the bright, active nature of hummingbirds. The species name mexicanus refers to its endemic range within Mexico.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 13–17 cm
⚖️ Weight: 4.5–6 g
🌎 Range: Pacific slope of Mexico in two disjunct regions
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 2,000 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid evergreen forest, semi-deciduous woodland, ravines, and Heliconia thickets
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae “Hermits”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Two recognized subspecies:
Phaethornis mexicanus mexicanus
Distribution: Southwestern Mexico, from western Guerrero to southeastern Oaxaca.Phaethornis mexicanus griseoventer
Distribution: Western Mexico, from Nayarit to Colima.
Species Overview
The Mexican Hermit is a shy forest-dwelling hummingbird endemic to Mexico’s Pacific slope. It forages along a trap-line route, visiting flowers repeatedly in sequence. Its long decurved bill and specialized tongue make it an efficient nectar feeder, and it supplements its diet with small insects. Males are known to gather in leks, where they perform courtship displays from exposed perches in dense undergrowth.
Male Description:
Bronzy green above, blackish tail with white-tipped feathers, buff facial stripe behind the eye, and a slightly cinnamon-toned belly. The tail is long and strongly graduated. The griseoventer subspecies tends to be paler below and shows more white in the tail.
Female Description:
Similar to male but paler overall, especially on the underparts, with a slightly shorter tail and reduced facial contrast.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in humid forests, often in ravines or along streams, as well as Heliconia thickets and semi-deciduous woodland. It prefers dense cover and often stays low in the understory. It follows a trap-lining foraging pattern rather than defending fixed territories.
Conservation Note:
Though restricted in range, the species is still considered stable. Ongoing deforestation and land-use changes may threaten local populations. Conservation of intact forest patches along the Pacific slope is essential for maintaining viable populations.
Below is the Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus mexicanus)
Photographed at Atoyac de Álvarez, Guerrero, Mexico
These individuals belong to the subspecies mexicanus, which ranges from western Guerrero to southeastern Oaxaca along Mexico’s Pacific slope. This form inhabits humid lowland and foothill forest, ravines, and semi-deciduous woodland from sea level to about 2,000 meters. It shows bronzy upperparts, a dark tail with white tips, and cinnamon-buff underparts. The facial stripe is distinct and the belly has a richer tone than in griseoventer.
