Black-throated Hermit Phaethornis atrimentalis Scientific name definitions

These hummingbirds are found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Black-throated Hermit is similar in appearance to the Reddish Hermit (P.ruber), but can be distinguished by their prominent dark brown throat and whitish undertail-coverts. Black-throated Hermits are understory species, and inhabit lowland rainforest as well as more open habitats such as plantations and swamp forest. The nectar of flowering plants such as Costus, Aechmea, Palicourea and Drymonia make up the diet of these hermits, as well as small arthropods.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Song is a high-pitched phrase repeated incessantly without pauses between phrases, at a rate of c. 1 phrase per 4–6 seconds. Phrase typically comprises several evenly-spaced single notes followed by two more rhythmic notes e.g. “tsee ... tsee ... tsee ... tsee .. tseeetew”. Call a high-pitched “pseep!”, usually given in flight.