Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Glaucis hirsutus
Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 6.8 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 Glaucis
- Species hirsutus
Where it lives
Panama to Brazil and northeastern Bolivia. Also Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.8 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 Rufous-breasted 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 Rufous-breasted Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Panama to Brazil and ne Bolivia. Also Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 3.9 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 7.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-breasted Hermit?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit is a very small bird that weighs around 6.8 g.
Where does the Rufous-breasted Hermit live?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Panama to Brazil and ne Bolivia. Also Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-breasted Hermit belong to?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous-breasted Hermit eat?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous-breasted Hermit migrate?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-breasted 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 Rufous-breasted Hermit make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-breasted 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 Rufous-breasted Hermit's range?
The Rufous-breasted Hermit has a mapped global range of about 7.8 million 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.