White-browed hermit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-browed hermit |
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Phaethornis
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stuarti
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The white-browed hermit (Phaethornis stuarti) is a tiny, fast-flying hummingbird. It belongs to the bird family called Trochilidae. This special bird lives in the mountains and lowlands of Bolivia and Peru.
You can usually find the white-browed hermit in its natural home, which is a warm, wet subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
Contents
About the White-Browed Hermit
This section helps us understand where the white-browed hermit fits in the bird world. Scientists group animals based on how they are related.
What's in a Name?
The white-browed hermit is sometimes thought to be very similar to another bird, the reddish hermit (P. ruber). However, scientists agree they are different species. The white-browed hermit is unique and doesn't have different types or subspecies within its own group.
What Does the White-Browed Hermit Look Like?
Let's learn about the size and features of this amazing hummingbird.
The white-browed hermit is about 10 cm (4 in) long. That's about the length of an adult's finger! It weighs only 2.5 grams (0.09 oz), which is less than a penny.
Both male and female white-browed hermits look quite similar. However, males have a thin black band across their chest. Females have slightly longer central tail feathers with lighter tips.
Special Features
This bird has a clear white stripe above its eye, like a tiny eyebrow. It also has a white throat. Its beak is black on top and yellow underneath.
It can be tricky to tell the white-browed hermit apart from the Reddish Hermit. The Reddish Hermit usually lives in lower areas. Scientists are still learning the best ways to tell these two birds apart. The white-browed hermit might be a bit lighter in color, with more bronze shades in its tail feathers.
Where Does the White-Browed Hermit Live?
The white-browed hermit lives along the base of the Andes mountains. Its home stretches from central Peru down to central Bolivia. You can find it at elevations from 350 meters (about 1,150 feet) up to 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet).
This bird mostly stays deep inside the forest. Sometimes, though, you might see it looking for food along the edges of the forest.
How Does the White-Browed Hermit Behave?
Hummingbirds have interesting behaviors! Let's explore what the white-browed hermit does.
Movement and Migration
Scientists believe the white-browed hermit stays in one place and does not migrate. This means it lives in the same area all year round.
Feeding Habits
Like most hummingbirds, the white-browed hermit mainly eats nectar from many different kinds of flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid that gives them energy. They also eat some small arthropods, which are tiny creatures like insects or spiders.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists have not yet recorded much about how the white-browed hermit breeds. We don't know much about their nesting habits or how they raise their young.
Vocalization and Song
The white-browed hermit has a unique song. It sounds like a series of high-pitched notes that get lower and faster: "tseee-tsee-tsee-tsi-ti-tututu." They also make quiet "tewp" notes in between.
What is the White-Browed Hermit's Status?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) checks on how many animals are left in the wild. They have said the white-browed hermit is of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, we don't know exactly how many white-browed hermits there are. Scientists think their numbers might be going down. Because we don't have enough information, some experts believe it should be listed as "Data Deficient." This means we need more research to truly understand its situation.
