Rufous-breasted Hermit
[order] Apodiformes | [family] Trochilidae | [latin] Glaucis hirsutus | [UK] Rufous-breasted Hermit | [FR] Ermite hirsute | [DE] Kupferschattenkolibri | [ES] Ermitano Bronceado | [IT] Eremita bronzato | [NL] Bronzen Heremietkolibrie
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Glaucis | hirsutus | LA | Panama to se Brazil | ||
| Glaucis | hirsutus | hirsutus | Panama and w Colombia through Venezuela and the Guianas to Brazil and n Bolivia | ||
| Glaucis | hirsutus | insularum | Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago |
Physical charateristics
The Rufous-breasted Hermit has a brownish head, bronze-green upperparts and rufous underparts. The tail has green central feathers and rufous outer feathers, all tipped white. The bill has a yellow lower mandible and a black upper mandible. Sexes are similar, but the male has yellow streaking on the upper mandible, and the female may be slightly duller in plumage.
Listen to the sound of Rufous-breasted Hermit
[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/R/Rufous-breasted Hermit.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 10 | cm | size max.: | 11 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 17 | days | incubation max.: | 18 | days |
| fledging min.: | 22 | days | fledging max.: | 24 | days |
| broods: | 3 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Range
The Rufous-breasted Hermit, Glaucis hirsutus is a hummingbird that breeds from Panama south to Brazil, and on Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada. It is a common and widespread species. A common bird in Suriname near open water and magroves.
Habitat
This hermit inhabits forest undergrowth often near running water.
Reproduction
The female Rufous-breasted Hermit lays two eggs in a small cup nest with a tail, made of rootlets and attached to the underside of a palm, fern or Heliconia leaf. The nests are often near a stream, waterfall or roadside, and are surprisingly easy to find. Incubation is 17 days done by female and young fledge after 23 days. Young remain with the adults 3-4 weeks more. It will breed for the first time in second season. This species may nest up to four times in a season. The male of this aggressive and inquisitive hummingbird defends the nest, but does not incubate.
Feeding habits
The Rufous-breasted Hermit’s food is nectar, taken from a variety of understory flowers, especially Heliconia and gingers, and some small invertebrates.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 7,900,000 km². The global population size has not been quantified, but it is believed to be large as the species is described as ‘frequent’ in at least parts of its range (Stotz et al. 1996). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Sedentary throughout range
Distribution map
Literature
Title A nest of the Rufous-breasted Hermit with three eggs
Author(s): F. HAVERSCHMIDT
Abstract: On 10 January 1968
I walked on a sand ridge betwe..[more]..
I walked on a sand ridge betwe..[more]..
Source: Auk, Vol. 85:(4)693
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