Photo: Jerry Oldenettel / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mexican Hermit
Phaethornis mexicanus
Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 6 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 mexicanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mexican 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 Mexican Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA w, sw Mexico.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 8.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 91,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mexican Hermit?
The Mexican Hermit is a very small bird that weighs around 6 g.
Where does the Mexican Hermit live?
The Mexican Hermit is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA w, sw Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mexican Hermit belong to?
The Mexican Hermit (Phaethornis mexicanus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Mexican Hermit eat?
The Mexican Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Mexican Hermit migrate?
The Mexican Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mexican 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 Mexican Hermit make?
1 real field recording of the Mexican Hermit — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mexican Hermit's range?
The Mexican Hermit has a mapped global range of about 91,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.