HUMMINGBIRDS OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Long-Tailed Hermit

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phaethornis Superciliosis

Adults are mainly dull brownish-green above with a buff-tinged rump. It has a dark mask through the eye, bordered above and below with whitish-buff stripes. The underparts are pale greyish-buff in color. The sexes are similar, although the female is slightly smaller.

BILL: long, black, slightly curved bill measuring about 1.4 - 1.7 inches, the lower bill is red-tipped.

SIZE: A large hummingbird with an average length of 5.3 inches - including its tail and bill. The central, white-tipped feathers of the tapered tail are about 1.7 to 2.7 inches long.

WEIGHT:  weighs between 3.5-6.6 grams.

COLOR: dull brownish-green, buff, white, greyish-buff.

Found in lowland edges of tropical forests, especially streamside. They are commonly observed in shady areas of tropical growth. They are concentrated in a warm, moist habitat where favorite food plants are abundantly found.

NECTAR from the primary food source, Heliconia, Aphelandra, passion flowers, and the Red Passion Flower.

INSECTS small insects and spiders.

NEST: cone-shaped nest out of plant fibers woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in a protected location in a shrub, bush or tree or attached to the underside of the broad leaves of the Heliconia plant or banana tree.

EGGS: 2 white elongated eggs.

INCUBATION: 14-19 days, female only.

Hovering while feeding from flowers. Sing in groups of up to 25 hummingbirds, called leks.

Southern Mexico through Central America to North-West Colombia.

The Long-Tailed Hermit is also known as the Eastern Long-tailed Hermit.

REFERENCES: https://www.beautyofbirds.com/

                          https://en.wikipedia.org/

                          https://animaldiversity.org/