| Black-throated hermit | |
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| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
| CITES Appendix II (CITES) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Phaethornis |
| Species: | P. atrimentalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Phaethornis atrimentalis Lawrence, 1858 | |
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The black-throated hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Taxonomy and systematics
The black-throated hermit was for a time considered a subspecies of little hermit (P. longuemareus), but is more closely related to the reddish hermit (P. ruber) and grey-chinned hermit (P. griseogularis). It has two subspecies, the nominate P. a. atrimentalis and P. a. riojae.
Description
The black-chinned hermit is about 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long, with P. a. riojae being larger than the nominate. The species has generally greenish upperparts with a reddish rump and a white-tipped dark tail. The throat is dark brown and the rest of the underparts cinnamon red but for whitish undertail coverts. Males often have a dark band between the throat and breast. Females are similar to males but their throat is lighter and they generally have longer wings.
Distribution and habitat
The nominate subspecies of black-chinned hermit is found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru's Loreto department. P. a. riojae is found further south, in central Peru between the departments of San Martín and Pasco. The species inhabits the understory of rainforest (especially it edges), secondary forest, and more open landscapes such as plantations and swamp forest. It is mostly a bird of the lowlands but is found as high as 1,500 m (4,900 ft) south of Peru's Marañón River.
Behavior
Movement
The black-throated hermit is believed to be sedentary.
Feeding
The black-throated hermit is a "trap-line" feeder like other hermit hummingbirds, visiting a circuit of flowering plants of many species for nectar. It also consumes small arthropods.
Breeding
The black-throated hermit's breeding phenology has not been documented. Observations indicate that its breeding season includes July and November in Peru and September in Ecuador.
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Songs and calls Listen to black-throated hermit on xeno-canto |
Vocalization
The black-throated hermit's song is "a high-pitched phrase repeated incessantly without pauses between phrases...e.g. 'tsee ... tsee ... tsee ... tsee .. tseeetew'." Its call is "a high-pitched 'pseep!'" that is usually given in flight.
Status
The IUCN has assessed the black-throated hermit as being of Least Concern, though its population size has not been determined and is believed to be decreasing. It is found in a few protected areas.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Black-throated Hermit Phaethornis atrimentalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22733197A95055412. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22733197A95055412.en. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.2)". Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 August 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved August 24, 2021
- ^ Hinkelmann, C. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bkther1.01 retrieved November 27, 2021
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Phaethornis atrimentalis |
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