Tawny-bellied Hermit - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Pitter
Dapa, Valle Department, Colombia, March 2011

Phaethornis syrmatophorus

Identification

Moderately curved bill, black upper mandible and reddish lower mandible. Tail-feathers dark with rufous tips except for the two central tail feathers that are elongated; the extension is white. Tail feathers contrast with tawny-buff tail coverts both above and below.

Variation

Eastern slope birds columbianus are more strongly colored.

Distribution

Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized: syrmatophorus and columbianus; these are found parallel to each other, syrmatophorus west of columbianus.

Habitat

Higher elevation forest, edges and openings.

Behaviour

Photo by Pitter
Dapa, Valle Department, Colombia,

Feeds on nectar from Heliconia and other flowers, and on insects. Often do traplining

References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Tawny-bellied Hermit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Tawny-bellied_Hermit

External Links

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