Needle-billed Hermit
Common name: Needle-billed Hermit
Scientific name: Phaethornis philippii
Clades: Phaethornithinae - Hermits
A discreet and specialized hummingbird of South America’s humid forests, the Needle-billed Hermit inhabits lowland rainforests and forest edges, mainly in the southern Amazon Basin, including parts of Brazil and Bolivia. Known for its slender form and distinctive bill, it measures 11 to 12.5 cm (4.3 to 4.9 in) and weighs approximately 3.5 to 5 grams (0.12 to 0.18 oz).
Male Description:
The male is bronzy-green to brown above and grayish below, with a pale buff throat and belly. The species’ defining feature is its extremely straight and slender bill, resembling a needle—unusual among hermits, which typically have strongly decurved bills. A pale supercilium (eyebrow stripe) and dark cheek stripe complete the classic hermit face pattern. The central tail feathers are elongated and tipped with white, giving a sleek appearance.
Female Description:
Females resemble males closely, though they are often slightly smaller with shorter central tail feathers and slightly paler underparts. The bill remains equally straight and needle-like, adapted for feeding at particular flowers with narrow corollas.
Habitat & Behavior:
Preferring the shaded understory of humid lowland forests, the Needle-billed Hermit is a classic trapliner, visiting a circuit of flowering plants instead of defending feeding territories. It is elusive and quiet, often slipping through dense foliage while foraging on nectar and small arthropods. Though locally common, the species is vulnerable to forest degradation and fragmentation.
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