White-whiskered hermit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-whiskered hermit |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Phaethornis |
| Species: |
P. yaruqui
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| Binomial name | |
| Phaethornis yaruqui (Bourcier, 1851)
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The white-whiskered hermit (Phaethornis yaruqui) is a special type of hummingbird. It belongs to the Trochilidae family, which includes all hummingbirds. You can find this amazing bird in the countries of Colombia and Ecuador.
Contents
About the White-Whiskered Hermit
What's in a Name?
The white-whiskered hermit is a unique bird. It is considered "monotypic," which means it's the only species in its specific group. Long ago, some thought there might be a different kind of white-whiskered hermit in western Colombia. But scientists later found out those were just young birds!
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How to Spot One
The white-whiskered hermit is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long, which is about the length of your hand. Males usually weigh between 4 to 7 g (0.14 to 0.25 oz), and females are a bit lighter, weighing 4 to 6.5 g (0.14 to 0.23 oz).
This medium-sized hummingbird has a shiny, bronze-colored head. Its back and upper parts are a beautiful, shimmery bluish-green. The feathers on its belly and chest can be green or dark gray.
Look closely at its face! It has a black "mask" across its eyes. Above this mask, there's a light, buffy stripe, like an eyebrow. It also has a clear white stripe on its throat, which looks a bit like a white mustache or "whisker," giving it its name!
The male bird has a bill (beak) that is almost straight. The female's bill is a little shorter and curves gently downwards. Females also have slightly shorter wings and a longer tail than males.
Where They Live
Home Sweet Home
The white-whiskered hermit lives in a specific part of South America. You can find it starting from the northern Chocó Department in Colombia. From there, its home stretches south through western Ecuador, all the way to El Oro Province. There have even been a few sightings in Panama, close to the Colombian border.
These hummingbirds love to live in humid forests. They prefer forests that are at a medium height on mountains, called "mid-elevation" and "montane" areas. They also live in humid secondary forest (forests that have grown back after being cut down), thick bushes, and even some plantations.
They usually live below 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in elevation. But sometimes, they can be found as high as 2,000 m (6,600 ft) up the mountains!
Daily Life and Habits
Moving Around
The white-whiskered hermit mostly stays in one place. Scientists call this "sedentary." However, in Ecuador, they seem to move to different elevations depending on the season. This might be to find more food or better weather.
What's for Dinner?
Like many other hermit hummingbirds, the white-whiskered hermit is a "trap-line" feeder. This means it flies a regular path, visiting a circuit of many different flowering plants. It sips nectar from these flowers, which gives it energy. Besides nectar, it also eats small arthropods, like tiny insects or spiders, for protein.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists are still learning about the white-whiskered hermit's breeding season. It seems to happen between November and July.
When it's time to build a nest, the female creates a cone-shaped cup. She hangs this nest from the underside of a drooping leaf, keeping it safe and hidden. A female white-whiskered hermit usually lays two eggs at a time.
Singing Their Song
The white-whiskered hermit has a unique song. It's a continuous series of rather harsh "kree-u" notes.
Males also make a series of "seek" notes. They do this while wagging their tails on a low branch at a special gathering spot called a lek. A lek is like a dance floor where male birds show off to attract females.
Their Future
How They Are Doing
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the white-whiskered hermit. They have assessed it as being of "Least Concern." This means that, for now, they are not in immediate danger of disappearing.
However, we don't know exactly how many white-whiskered hermits there are. Scientists believe their numbers might be slowly going down. These birds are generally common in wet forests. But for them to survive in the long run, it's really important to protect their forest homes.
 | Selma Burke |
 | Pauline Powell Burns |
 | Frederick J. Brown |
 | Robert Blackburn |
