Streak-throated Hermit

Brazil

Jul 17

Streak-throated Hermit (Phaethornis rupurumii)

Name Origin:
The genus Phaethornis comes from the Greek Phaethon (sun) and ornis (bird), meaning "sunbird." The species name rupurumii is derived from the Rupununi River region in Guyana, where the type specimen was collected.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~3.5–4.5 g (0.12–0.16 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern South America, from eastern Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas and into northern Brazil
🧭 Elevation: Lowlands, generally below 500 m
🌸 Diet: Primarily nectar, supplemented with small insects and spiders
🏡 Habitat: Lowland tropical forest, riverine forest, and dense secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Phaethornithinae (“Hermits”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Two subspecies:

Phaethornis rupurumii rupurumii
Distribution: Extreme eastern Colombia (eastern Vichada) through central and eastern Venezuela and western Guyana into adjacent northern Brazil (Roraima).
Phaethornis rupurumii amazonicus
Distribution: Lower Amazon region of north-central Brazil, east from the lower Rio Negro.

Species Overview

The Streak-throated Hermit is a small, slim hermit with a finely streaked throat, a long decurved bill, and pale central tail feathers. Unlike many hermits, it forages lower in the understory, often in river-edge habitats. It is more often heard than seen, delivering soft, repetitive calls in shaded forest.

Male Description:
Olive-brown above with dusky gray below, prominent white facial stripe, and well-marked streaks on the throat. The bill is long and decurved.

Female Description:
Similar to the male but slightly duller and with a shorter bill. Streaking may appear less defined.

Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers dense lowland forest, often near rivers and forest edges. Typically solitary and territorial, it patrols feeding circuits along flowering understory plants. It uses trap-lining behavior to visit specific nectar sources repeatedly and supplements its diet with small arthropods.

Conservation Note:
The species is considered Least Concern, with a wide but patchy range across lowland South America. It is generally uncommon and locally distributed, with its reliance on dense understory and riverine zones making it vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and deforestation. However, populations appear stable where suitable habitat persists.

Below is the Streak-throated Hermit (Phaethornis rupurumii amazonicus)

Photographed at PN de Anavilhanas – Ilha do Tracajá, Novo Airão, Amazonas, Brazil

These individuals belong to the subspecies amazonicus, which occurs along the lower Amazon basin in north-central Brazil, east from the lower Rio Negro. This form is subtly differentiated by slight plumage tone variation and geography, though visually similar to the nominate. It occupies riverine forest and understory thickets below 300 meters.