Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-billed Hermit
Phaethornis longirostris
Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. 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 longirostris
Where it lives
Southern Mexico to northern Colombia, western Ecuador and northwestern Peru
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6 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 Long-billed 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 Long-billed Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA s Mexico to n Colombia, w Ecuador and nw Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 6.6 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 534,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-billed Hermit?
The Long-billed Hermit is a very small bird that weighs around 6 g.
Where does the Long-billed Hermit live?
The Long-billed Hermit is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA s Mexico to n Colombia, w Ecuador and nw Peru, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Long-billed Hermit belong to?
The Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Long-billed Hermit eat?
The Long-billed Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Long-billed Hermit migrate?
The Long-billed Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Long-billed 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 Long-billed Hermit make?
1 real field recording of the Long-billed 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 Long-billed Hermit's range?
The Long-billed Hermit has a mapped global range of about 534,000 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.