Reddish Hermit

Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber)

Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis is derived from Phaethon, a figure in Greek mythology associated with the sun, combined with ornis, meaning “bird.” The species epithet ruber is Latin for “red,” referring to the rufous tone in its plumage.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~2.2–3 g (0.08–0.11 oz)
🌎 Range: Widespread across northern and central South America
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,400 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid lowland forest, forest edge, and secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae (a.k.a. “hermits”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Four subspecies:

1. Phaethornis ruber episcopus
   Distribution: Central and eastern Venezuela, Guyana, and adjacent northern Brazil (Roraima)

2. Phaethornis ruber ruber
   Distribution: Suriname and French Guiana through much of Brazil, southeast Peru, and northern Bolivia

3. Phaethornis ruber nigricinctus
   Distribution: Extreme southwest Venezuela and eastern/southern Colombia south to eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru, and northwestern Brazil

4. Phaethornis ruber longipennis
   Distribution: Foothills of southeastern Peru (Pasco to northern Cuzco)

Species Overview

The Reddish Hermit is a small, active hummingbird known for its subtle, rufous-based plumage and typical hermit-like behavior. It stays low in dense understory vegetation, moving quickly between flowers, especially along forest edges and clearings. Its tail often flicks while feeding, and it’s more often heard than seen due to its thin, high-pitched calls.

Male Description:
Reddish-brown overall with slightly darker greenish upperparts, a decurved black bill, pale supercilium, and long white-tipped central tail feathers. Typical hermit structure with a sleek, slender body and rapid darting flight.

Female Description:
Similar to the male but often with paler underparts and slightly shorter bill. Sexual dimorphism is minimal in this species.

Habitat & Behavior:
Primarily occupies humid lowland forests, often near streams, edges, or within dense vegetation. Forages low in the understory, usually by traplining between a set of flowering plants. Rarely territorial, it often overlaps with other hermits at feeding sites. Its subtle plumage makes it hard to detect unless vocalizing or feeding in open areas.

Conservation Note:
Though deforestation impacts much of its lowland habitat, the Reddish Hermit remains widespread and adaptable, often thriving in secondary growth and degraded forest. Populations remain stable in many regions, and the species is commonly encountered throughout much of its range.

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Below is the Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber ruber)

Photographed at Pousada Casa de Geleia, Lençóis, Bahia, and Casa BirdingAtlantic, Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

These individuals belong to the nominate subspecies ruber, which is widely distributed across eastern and southern Brazil, including the Atlantic Forest and drier interior regions. Birds in this population are characterized by their bright rufous underparts, pale supercilium, black decurved bill, and white-tipped central tail feathers. The ruber form is adaptable and regularly found in low vegetation within forest borders, second growth, and regenerating woodlands.