Bronzy hermit
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Glaucis aeneus

The bronzy hermit (Glaucis aeneus ) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Appearance

The bronzy hermit is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long. Males weigh 3 to 6.5 g (0.11 to 0.23 oz) and females 3 to 6 g (0.11 to 0.21 oz). The male's bill is decurved and the maxilla has serrated edges. The female's bill has more curve and no serrations. The sexes' plumages are alike, with bronzy or coppery green upperparts, deep buff thoat and breast, and pale buff belly. The face has a white "moustache" and is otherwise dusky. The upperside of the tail is gray-green with white tips and the underside reddish near the body, blackish in the middle, and white at the tips. The Central American population has slightly longer wings than the South American but their plumages are identical.

Distribution

Geography

The bronzy hermit has two separate populations. One is found from eastern Honduras through eastern Nicaragua and eastern and western Costa Rica into western Panama. The other is found from western Colombia into northwestern Ecuador as far south as Pichincha Province. The species inhabits semi-open landscapes such as disturbed primary forest, mature secondary forest, swamp forest, and shrublands. In elevation it occurs from sea level to 750 m (2,500 ft) in Costa Rica and 800 m (2,600 ft) in Colombia.

Bronzy hermit habitat map
Bronzy hermit habitat map
Bronzy hermit
Attribution License

Habits and Lifestyle

The bronzy hermit is believed to be non-migratory throughout its range.

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

The bronzy hermit feeds on nectar at Heliconia and other plants. Small arthropods are also eaten; the latter are usually hover-gleaned from spider webs, leaves, and twigs, and occasionally caught in flight.

Mating Habits

The bronzy hermit's breeding season varies geographically by has not been fully defined. Its nest is a cone-shaped cup made of plant fibers bound with spider web and decorated with lichens, attached to the underside of a drooping leaf. The clutch size is two eggs.

Population

Population number

The IUCN has assessed the bronzy hermit as being of Least Concern, though its population number and trend are not known. It occurs in several protected areas, and is deemed "very common" in Colombia.

References

1. Bronzy hermit Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronzy_hermit
2. Bronzy hermit on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22686903/93130607
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/612023

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About