Phaethornis
Genus of birds
title: "Phaethornis" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["phaethornis", "bird-genera", "taxa-named-by-william-swainson"] description: "Genus of birds" topic_path: "general/phaethornis" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaethornis" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of birds ::
| name = Phaethornis | image = Phaethornis superciliosus Eastern Long-tailed Hermit, Novo Airão, Amazonas, Brazil.jpg | image_caption = Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis superciliosus | taxon = Phaethornis | authority = Swainson, 1827 | type_species = Phaethornis superciliosus | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1766 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text | synonyms = *Pygmornis
*** Phaethornis *** is a genus of hummingbirds in the hermit subfamily, Phaethornithinae. They occur from southern Mexico, through Central America, to South America as far south as northern Argentina.
Taxonomy
The genus Phaethornis was introduced in 1827 by William Swainson with the long-tailed hermit as the type species. The name combines the Ancient Greek phaethōn meaning "sun" and ornis meaning "bird". The genus now contains 27 species.
The taxonomy of some groups have changed significantly in recent years, especially following the split of several small hermits (P. idaliae, P. atrimentalis and P. striigularis) previously considered subspecies of Phaethornis longuemareus, as well as the split of P. longirostris from P. superciliosus.
Further confusion exists between P. superciliosus and P. malaris: Most taxa previously considered subspecies of the former (bolivianus, insolitus, margarettae, moorei and ochraceiventris) are now placed with the latter. A fully satisfactory taxonomic treatment of the entire longirostris/malaris/superciliosus group is still lacking according to some Neotropical ornithologists.
Another such case is P. maranhaoensis: Some considered it invalid, believing it was the male plumage of P. nattereri. However, P. maranhaoensis only occurs in the northern part of the range of P. nattereri, and the two have different voices. Molecular work also confirms the validity of P. maranhaoensis, though details presently are lacking. Comparably, P. aethopyga has generally been considered invalid as believed to be a hybrid between P. ruber and P. rupurumii, but this assumption has recently been shown to be incorrect, leading to its revalidation as a distinct species. For the same authors, the taxa proposed as hybrids by Hinkelmann, could be valid taxa, especially P. longuemareus imatacae.
Description and ecology
Their plumage typically involves greens, browns, rufous or grey. Most species show some green or bronze iridescence to the upperparts, but this is far less conspicuous than that of many other hummingbirds. The male and female plumages of hermits are very similar, with differences limited to details of bill-shape, tail-shape and/or strength of colours/patterns. No species of hermit show the strong sexual dimorphism usually associated with hummingbirds.
Phaethornis hermits typically have a long decurved bill, although three species, P. koepkeae, P. philippii and P. bourcieri have virtually straight bills. They have a red or yellow base to the lower mandible, and their two central tail feathers are elongated and tipped with white, buff or ochraceous. The crown of the head is flat, and two pale facial stripes enclose a dusky mask.
Most * Phaethornis * hermits are restricted to the edge and undergrowth of forest, woodland and second growth, but some species (e.g. P. pretrei) also occur in more open habitats.
Many species of hermits form leks and congregate on traditional display grounds, where females visit to choose a mate. However, male hermits are generally less aggressive than other male hummingbirds, though both sexes will defend a feeding territory.
Most hermits are associated with heliconias, but will utilize other nectar sources like flowers of Centropogon, Passiflora, Costus, etc. To a lesser degree, they will capture small arthropods. The long, decurved bills typical of most members of this group of hummingbirds are an adaptation to certain flowers.
Species in taxonomic order
::data[format=table]
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Dusky-throated Hermit - Intervales NP - Brazil S4E9692 (12814056545).jpg | 120px]] | Dusky-throated hermit | Phaethornis squalidus |
| [[File:Phaethornis rupununi - Streak-throated hermit; Anavilhanas islands, Novo Airão, Amazonas, Brazil.jpg | 120px]] | Streak-throated hermit | Phaethornis rupurumii |
| [[File:Phaethornis aethopygus Tapajos Hermit; Novo Progresso, Pará, Brazil.jpg | 120px]] | Tapajós hermit | Phaethornis aethopygus |
| [[File:Little hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus) - male, French Guiana - 1.jpg | 120px]] | Little hermit | Phaethornis longuemareus |
| [[File:Phaethornis idaliae.jpg | 120px]] | Minute hermit | Phaethornis idaliae |
| [[File:Phaethornis nattereri Cinnamon-throated Hermit; Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil.jpg | 120px]] | Cinnamon-throated hermit | Phaethornis nattereri |
| [[File:Black-throated Hermit imported from iNaturalist photo 94209850 on 9 January 2023 (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Black-throated hermit | Phaethornis atrimentalis |
| [[File:Colibrí Ermitañito Gargantirayado Stripe-Throated Hermit Phaethornis Striigularis Parque Nacional Henri Pittier Aragua Venezuela 04.jpg | 120px]] | Stripe-throated hermit | Phaethornis striigularis |
| [[File:Grey-chinned Hermit.jpg | 120px]] | Grey-chinned hermit | Phaethornis griseogularis |
| [[File:Reddish Hermit.JPG | 120px]] | Reddish hermit | Phaethornis ruber |
| [[File:Phaethornis stuarti White-browed Hermit; Paucartambo, Peru.jpg | 120px]] | White-browed hermit | Phaethornis stuarti |
| [[File:Phaethornis subochraceus (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Buff-bellied hermit | Phaethornis subochraceus |
| [[File:Phaethornis augusti 345618420.jpg | 120px]] | Sooty-capped hermit | Phaethornis augusti |
| [[File:Phaethornis pretrei.jpg | 120px]] | Planalto hermit | Phaethornis pretrei |
| [[File:RABO-BRANCO-DE-GARGANTA-RAJADA (Phaethornis eurynome).jpg | 120px]] | Scale-throated hermit | Phaethornis eurynome |
| [[File:Pale-bellied Hermit2.jpg | 120px]] | Pale-bellied hermit | Phaethornis anthophilus |
| [[File:Reddish Hermit.jpg | 120px]] | White-bearded hermit | Phaethornis hispidus |
| [[File:White-whiskered Hermit (F).jpg | 120px]] | White-whiskered hermit | Phaethornis yaruqui |
| [[File:Phaethornis guy.jpg | 120px]] | Green hermit | Phaethornis guy |
| [[File:Tawny-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus).jpg | 120px]] | Tawny-bellied hermit | Phaethornis syrmatophorus |
| [[File:Koepcke's Hermit.jpg | 120px]] | Koepcke's hermit | Phaethornis koepckeae |
| [[File:Phaethornis philippii Needle-billed Hermit; Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.jpg | 120px]] | Needle-billed hermit | Phaethornis philippii |
| [[File:Straight-billed Hermit (Phaethornis bourcieri).jpg | 120px]] | Straight-billed hermit | Phaethornis bourcieri |
| [[File:Eastern Long-tailed Hermit - Rio Tigre - Costa Rica MG 8436 (26084791724).jpg | 120px]] | Long-billed hermit or western long-tailed hermit | Phaethornis longirostris |
| [[File:Mexican Hermit.jpg | 120px]] | Mexican hermit | Phaethornis mexicanus |
| [[File:Longtailed hermit hummingbird (3261473173).jpg | 120px]] | (Eastern) long-tailed hermit | Phaethornis superciliosus |
| [[File:Great-billed Hermit (Phaethornis malaris) (9496909861).jpg | 120px]] | Great-billed hermit | Phaethornis malaris |
| :: |
References
References
- Swainson, William. (1827). "A synopsis of the birds discovered in Mexico by W. Bullock, F.L.S. and Mr. William Bullock jun.". Philosophical Magazine.
- Jobling, James A.. (2010). "The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names". Christopher Helm.
- (January 2021). "Hummingbirds". International Ornithologists' Union.
- Hinkelmann, Christoph. (1996). "Evidence for natural hybridisation in hermit hummingbirds (''Phaethornis'' spp.)". Bulletin B.O.U..
- Hinkelmann, Christoph. (1996). "Systematics and geographic variation in long-tailed hermit hummingbirds, the ''Phaethornis superciliosus-malaris-longirostris'' species group (Trochilidae), with notes on their biogeography". Ornitologia Neotropical.
- (1997). "Phylogeny of the hermit hummingbirds (Trochilidae: Phaethornithinae)". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment.
- Mallet-Rodrigues, Francisco. (2006). "Táxons de aves de validade questionável com ocorrência no Brasil. III – Trochilidae (I)". Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia.
- Piacentini, V. de Q., A. Aleixo, & L. F. Silveira. (2009). "Hybrid, Subspecies, or Species? The Validity and Taxonomic Status of Phaethornis longuemareus aethopyga Zimmer, 1950 (Trochilidae)". The Auk.
- [[South American Classification Committee]] (2003): [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop77.html Proposal (# 77) to South American Check-list Committee] {{webarchive. link. (2006-09-04 : Split ''Threnetes leucurus'' from ''Threnetes niger''. Retrieved 2008-OCT-31.)
- [[South American Classification Committee]] (2005): [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop178.html Proposal (# 178) to South American Check-list Committee] {{webarchive. link. (2007-02-23 : Abandon the Hinkelmann-Schuchmann classification of the hermit hummingbirds (Phaethorninae), and specifically their classification of the ''Phaethornis superciliosus-malaris-longirostris'' species group. Retrieved 2008-OCT-31.)
- [[South American Classification Committee]] (2008): A classification of the bird species of South America – [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline04.html Part 4. Apodiformes] {{webarchive. link. (2008-05-11 . Version of 2008-OCT-27. Retrieved 2008-OCT-31.)
- Schuchmann, Karl-Ludwig (1999): Family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds). ''In:'' del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.): ''[[Handbook of Birds of the World]]'' (Vol. 5: Barn-owls to Hummingbirds): 468–680, plates 45–76. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN. 84-87334-25-3
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