Introduction
The Stripe-throated Hermit (Phaethornis striigularis) is a small, resident hummingbird of humid forests, forest edges and dense secondary growth in Central America and northern South America. It is recognised by its compact size, long decurved bill, rufous rump and tail, and finely streaked throat.
Physical Description
The Stripe-throated Hermit is a small hummingbird, measuring approximately 8.5–10 centimetres in length. Its upperparts are mainly dull bronze-green, with a paler or rufous rump and uppertail-coverts. The underparts are buff to greyish-brown, and the throat is marked with narrow pale and darker streaks, although the pattern can be difficult to see in poor light.
The face has the typical hermit pattern of a pale supercilium and moustachial stripe contrasting with darker areas around the eye and ear-coverts. Its long, slender bill is slightly decurved, while the tail is relatively long for such a small hummingbird and has broad pale or buff tips on the central feathers. Males and females are broadly similar in appearance, with differences in size and plumage usually subtle. Juveniles may appear duller and less sharply marked than adults.
Range and Habitat
The species occurs from southern Mexico through Central America, including Costa Rica and Panama, and southwards into Colombia, western Ecuador and northern and western Venezuela. Several geographic forms are recognised, including P. s. saturatus, P. s. subrufescens, P. s. striigularis and P. s. ignobilis. Their ranges and plumage details vary across the species’ distribution.
Stripe-throated Hermits are generally associated with humid lowland and foothill forest, forest margins, clearings with flowering plants, streamside vegetation and regenerating secondary growth. They often remain in shaded vegetation and may be overlooked despite living in areas frequented by birdwatchers. The species is considered resident rather than migratory, although local movements may occur in response to food availability and seasonal conditions.
Where to See This Species
Parque Nacional Laguna del Tigre, Petén, Guatemala
The species has been recorded among the hummingbirds of Parque Nacional Laguna del Tigre, where monitoring by Estación Biológica Las Guacamayas documents the area’s avifauna. Forest trails, flowering plants and shaded edges around the biological station provide suitable places to search, particularly during active morning feeding periods.
Nearby accommodation: Flores and nearby Petén settlements provide hotels, guest houses, lodges and other accommodation used as bases for visits to the national park and biological station.
Tapantí National Park, Cartago Province, Costa Rica
Stripe-throated Hermit is included on the bird checklist for Tapantí National Park. The park’s humid forest, dense understorey and flowering vegetation provide appropriate habitat, although the species can be unobtrusive and may require patient observation along forest trails and edges.
Nearby accommodation: Orosi and Cartago are practical bases, with hotels, guest houses, lodges and self-catering accommodation available in the surrounding valleys and mountain communities.
Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo, Córdoba, Colombia
The species has been documented within Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo, including records from the Manso and Tigre sectors. Conserved forest, gallery vegetation and other humid habitats in the park offer suitable conditions for this understorey hermit. Access may be restricted or require local authorisation, so visits should be arranged through the relevant park authorities or local conservation partners.
Nearby accommodation: Tierralta and surrounding communities are the nearest practical bases, with simple hotels, guest houses and locally arranged accommodation available for visits to the park area.
Behaviour and Diet
Stripe-throated Hermits usually forage alone and spend much of their time in shaded understorey vegetation. Like other hermits, they may follow regular traplines, visiting a sequence of flowering plants at intervals rather than defending a single feeding patch. Their long bill allows them to take nectar from tubular flowers, and they may also take small insects and spiders, particularly when feeding young.
Their feeding can contribute to pollination when pollen is transferred between flowers during repeated visits. However, the importance of this service varies among plant species and should not be assumed for every flower visited.
Breeding information is less well documented than for some larger hummingbirds. The female builds and attends the nest, which is typically a small cup or cone of plant fibres, down and spider silk attached to the underside of a leaf, fern frond or similar structure. The male does not normally provide the main parental care. Nesting dates vary geographically and may be associated with local rainfall and food availability.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very small hermit with a long, slightly decurved bill and a relatively long tail.
- The combination of bronze-green upperparts, a rufous rump, buffy underparts and a finely streaked throat is useful when seen clearly.
- The pale supercilium and moustachial stripe create a noticeable facial pattern, especially in shaded forest.
- The bird often remains low in dense vegetation, perching quietly between feeding visits.
- Distinguishing it from other small Phaethornis hermits may require attention to throat pattern, tail-tip markings, bill length, rump colour and local range. Identification is particularly difficult where it overlaps with Grey-chinned Hermit and other small hermits.
- Do not rely on the throat streaking alone, as it can be faint, worn or obscured by shadow.
Conservation Status
The Stripe-throated Hermit is assessed as Least Concern. It remains relatively widespread, but habitat loss and fragmentation caused by deforestation, agricultural expansion, roads and other land conversion may reduce local populations, especially where humid forest is replaced by simplified vegetation.
Protecting remaining forest, maintaining connected secondary growth and conserving flowering plants can help preserve feeding and nesting habitat. Monitoring is also useful because local declines may occur even when the species remains widespread at a global level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Stripe-throated Hermit live?
It occurs from southern Mexico through Central America and into Colombia, western Ecuador and northern and western Venezuela. It is mainly associated with humid forest, forest edges, streamside vegetation and dense secondary growth.
Is the Stripe-throated Hermit migratory?
It is generally regarded as a resident species rather than a long-distance migrant. Local movements may occur when flowering patterns, rainfall or food availability change.
What does the Stripe-throated Hermit eat?
Its diet consists mainly of nectar from flowers, supplemented by small insects and spiders. Animal prey is particularly important as a source of protein during breeding.
How can the species be identified?
Look for a small hermit with bronze-green upperparts, a rufous rump and tail, buffy underparts, a long decurved bill and fine streaking on the throat. Its pale facial stripes are also useful field marks.
Where is the best place to look for this hummingbird?
Search quietly along shaded forest trails, edges, streamside vegetation and flowering plants within its range. Tapantí National Park in Costa Rica, Parque Nacional Laguna del Tigre in Guatemala and Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo in Colombia are documented locations where it occurs.
Is the Stripe-throated Hermit endangered?
No. It is currently assessed as Least Concern, although deforestation and habitat fragmentation remain important local threats.
References
- BirdLife International
- IOC World Bird List
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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