White-bearded hermit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-bearded hermit |
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Phaethornis
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hispidus
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The white-bearded hermit (Phaethornis hispidus) is a type of hummingbird. It belongs to the Trochilidae family. You can find this small bird in several South American countries. These include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
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About the White-Bearded Hermit
The white-bearded hermit is a medium-sized hummingbird. It grows to be about 13 to 14 centimeters (5 to 5.5 inches) long. It is also very light, weighing only 4 to 6 grams (0.14 to 0.21 ounces).
This bird has a beautiful bronzy-green color on its upper body. Its tail feathers have gray edges. The underside of its body is gray. Its face has a black "mask" with a white stripe above its eye. It also has a white stripe on its cheek. A white stripe runs down the center of its throat.
Male and female white-bearded hermits look very similar. However, females have slightly shorter wings. Their beaks are also a bit shorter and more curved than the males'.
Where White-Bearded Hermits Live
The white-bearded hermit lives in the Amazonia region. This area stretches from the Andes mountains in western Venezuela. It goes south through eastern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It also reaches northeastern Bolivia and western Amazonian Brazil.
These hummingbirds usually live in places up to 850 meters (2,800 feet) high. Sometimes, they are found as high as 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in Peru. They prefer humid, wet areas. In lower lands, they often live near rivers. They also like forests that get flooded regularly. In higher areas, they prefer forests found along rivers in grasslands.
White-Bearded Hermit Behavior
How They Find Food
The white-bearded hermit is a "trap-line" feeder. This means it flies a regular path, visiting many different flowering plants. It sips nectar from these flowers. Like other hummingbirds, it also eats small arthropods, which are tiny insects or spiders.
Reproduction and Nests
The breeding times for white-bearded hermits vary. This is because they live in such a large area. However, the exact details are not fully known. Like many other hermit hummingbirds, they build a special nest. It is shaped like a cone. They hang this nest from the underside of a drooping leaf. A female white-bearded hermit usually lays two eggs.
Their Song and Calls
The white-bearded hermit has a unique song. It is a continuous series of high-pitched single notes. It sounds like "seep." Males often sing this song from a low branch. They gather in groups called leks to sing. Their call is a short, sharp sound, like "pip!"
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the white-bearded hermit as a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of extinction. We do not know the exact number of these birds. However, their population is thought to be decreasing.
Even so, they live in many protected areas. Their wide distribution and ability to adapt help them survive. This likely means the species is not greatly threatened right now.
