Photo: Michael Woodruff from Spokane, Washington, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tawny-bellied Hermit
Phaethornis syrmatophorus
Tawny-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tawny-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Phaethornis
- Species syrmatophorus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tawny-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.8 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 6.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 160,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tawny-bellied Hermit?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is a very small bird that weighs around 5.8 g.
Where does the Tawny-bellied Hermit live?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tawny-bellied Hermit belong to?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis syrmatophorus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Tawny-bellied Hermit eat?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Tawny-bellied Hermit migrate?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tawny-bellied Hermit endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Tawny-bellied Hermit make?
1 real field recording of the Tawny-bellied Hermit — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tawny-bellied Hermit's range?
The Tawny-bellied Hermit has a mapped global range of about 160,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.