- Rufous-breasted Hermit
Taxobox
name = Rufous-breasted Hermit
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Trochiliformes
familia =Trochilidae
genus = "Glaucis "
species = "G. hirsuta"
binomial = "Glaucis hirsuta"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin,1788 )The Rufous-breasted Hermit or Hairy Hermit, "Glaucis hirsuta", is a
hummingbird that breeds fromPanama south toBrazil , and onTrinidad ,Tobago andGrenada . It is a widespread and generally common species.This hermit inhabits forest undergrowth often near running water. It is 10.7 cm long and weighs 7 g. The bill is long (3.3cm) and strongly decurved.
The Rufous-breasted Hermit has a brownish head, bronze-green upperparts and rufous underparts. The tail has green central feathers and rufous outer feathers, all tipped white. The bill has a yellow lower mandible and a black upper mandible. Sexes are similar, but the male has yellow streaking on the upper mandible, and the female may be slightly duller in plumage.
The female Rufous-breasted Hermit lays two eggs in a small cup nest with a tail, made of rootlets and attached to the underside of a palm, fern or
Heliconia leaf. The nests are often near a stream, waterfall or roadside, and are surprisingly easy to find. Incubation is 17 days with 23 more to fledging, and this species may nest up to four times in a season. The male of this aggressive and inquisitive hummingbird defends the nest, but does not incubate.The Rufous-breasted Hermit's food is nectar, taken from a variety of understory flowers, especially Heliconia and gingers, and some small invertebrates. The call of this species is a high-pitched "sweet".
References
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=2973 "Hairy Hermit"-"Glaucis hirsuta" videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/8600500.htm Stamps] (forGrenada ,Grenadines of Grenada,Guyana ,Trinidad and Tobago ) with RangeMap
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=Rufous-breasted+Hermit&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Rufous-breasted Hermit photo gallery] VIREO [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/species_image.php?species=Glaucis+hirsutus Photo-High Res-(Close-up)(rufous breast and bill)]
* [http://www.jarvislab.net/Graphics/evolution/Glaucis_a.jpgPhoto-Medium Res] ; [http://www.jarvislab.net/Evolution/hummingbirds.html Article]
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