Sooty-capped Hermit

Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti)

Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis is derived from Phaethon, the son of the sun god Helios in Greek mythology, referencing the shimmering appearance of hermits. The species name augusti honors French naturalist Auguste Sallé, who collected in the Neotropics in the 19th century.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 13–14.5 cm (5.1–5.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.0–5.5 g (0.14–0.19 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern South America, primarily Colombia, Venezuela, and far northern Brazil
🧭 Elevation: 200–1,800 m (650–5,900 ft), mainly in foothills and lower montane forest
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid forest understory, edge, and dense second growth
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae (“Hermits”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Three subspecies:

1. Phaethornis augusti curiosus
   Distribution: Santa Marta Mountains in northern Colombia.

2. Phaethornis augusti augusti
   Distribution: Coastal Range and eastern Andes of Venezuela, extending south on the eastern slope of the Eastern Andes in Colombia.

3. Phaethornis augusti incanescens
   Distribution: Isolated tepui highlands of southern Venezuela, western Guyana, and northern Brazil (Roraima).

Species Overview

The Sooty-capped Hermit is a mid-sized hermit species characterized by its dull, dusky plumage and subtle markings. It is typically found in the dense understory of humid forests and wooded slopes, often heard before it is seen due to its sharp, insect-like calls. This species is locally common in foothills and lower montane zones across its disjunct range.

Male Description:
Sooty-brown to grayish overall, with a contrasting whitish facial stripe and blackish mask. The bill is decurved and black. Tail feathers may show pale tips and are often held fanned during hovering.

Female Description:
Similar to the male, though with slightly paler underparts and a more curved bill. Sexual dimorphism is minimal.

Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers dark, humid environments, including forest edges, stream corridors, and thickets. Forages low to the ground on tubular flowers and captures small arthropods by gleaning or hawking. Typically follows a traplining route and is less aggressive than some other hummingbirds. Its call is a high, sharp tsip-tsip, often repeated in bouts.

Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern, the Sooty-capped Hermit remains stable across much of its fragmented range. It occupies both primary and secondary forests and tolerates moderately disturbed areas, although ongoing deforestation could isolate populations, especially in tepui regions and localized Andean slopes. Its elevational flexibility aids in resilience to habitat pressures.

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Below is the Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti augusti)

Photographed at Hacienda La Leona Birdwatching, Cundinamarca, Colombia

These individuals belong to the subspecies augusti, which ranges across the Coastal Range and Eastern Andes of Venezuela, extending south into the eastern slopes of the Eastern Andes in Colombia. It occupies humid foothill and lower montane forest between 200 and 1,800 meters. This subspecies shows uniform sooty-brown plumage with a whitish facial stripe and a slightly paler belly. Its soft, buzzy calls and traplining behavior make it a typical, if inconspicuous, presence in dense forest understory.