Sooty-capped Hermit
NameSooty-capped Hermit
Common NameSooty-capped Hermit
Scientific NamePhaethornis augusti
FamilyTrochilidae
Wingspan (cm)11
Length (cm)14
Weight (g)5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dusky olive-green to brownish, with a distinctive darker sooty-brown cap. It features prominent white supercilium (stripe above the eye) and malar stripe (stripe below the eye) framing a dusky cheek patch. Underparts are buffy-grey to brownish-grey, becoming paler on the belly. The long, graduated tail has white tips on the central rectrices.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations consist of high-pitched, thin, and often repeated 'tsip' or 'tseet' notes, sometimes delivered in a rapid series.
Primary Dietnectarivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Andes and associated mountain ranges of northern South America, including parts of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Identifying FeaturesLong, strongly decurved bill, Sooty-brown cap, Prominent white supercilium and malar stripe, Drab brownish-grey plumage, Long, graduated tail with white tips on central feathers
Description
The Sooty-capped Hermit is a medium-sized hummingbird characterized by its long, strongly decurved bill and relatively drab plumage. It typically forages by 'trap-lining,' visiting a regular circuit of flowers for nectar. This species is often found in the understory and edges of humid montane forests.
