Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tapajos Hermit
Phaethornis aethopygus
Tapajos Hermit (Phaethornis aethopygus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tapajos Hermit (Phaethornis aethopygus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Phaethornis
- Species aethopygus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tapajos 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 Tapajos Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tapajos Hermit (Phaethornis aethopygus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Tapajós-Xingu interfluvium in Brazil (Para).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 3 g, with a wing length of about 4.1 cm and a tail of around 3.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 178,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tapajos Hermit?
The Tapajos Hermit is a very small bird that weighs around 3 g.
Where does the Tapajos Hermit live?
The Tapajos Hermit is found across South America with a range covering SA Tapajós-Xingu interfluvium in Brazil (Para), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Tapajos Hermit belong to?
The Tapajos Hermit (Phaethornis aethopygus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Tapajos Hermit eat?
The Tapajos Hermit is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Tapajos Hermit migrate?
The Tapajos Hermit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tapajos Hermit endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Tapajos Hermit make?
1 real field recording of the Tapajos 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 Tapajos Hermit's range?
The Tapajos Hermit has a mapped global range of about 178,000 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.