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Long-tailed hermit

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description Long-tailed hermit Overview

The long-tailed hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus) is a large species of hummingbird belonging to the hermit subfamily. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, this bird is found in tropical lowland forests across Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil. It is distinguished by its notably elongated central tail feathers and a strongly decurved bill used to access deep flowers. Males typically perform communal lekking displays to attract mates within the forest understory.

help Long-tailed hermit FAQ

Where can I find the long-tailed hermit in the wild?

The long-tailed hermit is native to the tropical lowland forests of South America, specifically in Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil. They prefer humid forest understories where they can easily find flowering plants.

What does a long-tailed hermit hummingbird look like?

This species is a large hummingbird notable for its extremely long, graduated tail and a strikingly long, decurved bill. Both sexes are predominantly greenish-brown on top with a distinctive dark mask through the eye and pale underparts.

What does the long-tailed hermit eat?

Like most hummingbirds, the long-tailed hermit primarily feeds on nectar from specialized tubular flowers. It will also catch small insects and spiders in mid-air or glean them from leaves to get essential protein.

Who first scientifically described the long-tailed hermit?

The long-tailed hermit was originally described by the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1766. Linnaeus initially placed it in a broader genus before it was reclassified into the hermit genus *Phaethornis*.

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