Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber)
Reddish Hermit, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, February 2002 - click for larger image Brazil

The Reddish Hermit is one of the smallest hummingbirds at about 8 cm (3") and weighing about 2 grams.

It is found from Venezuela to south east Brazil and through the Amazonian Basin to foot the Andes.
Reddish Hermit, Lençois, Bahia, Brazil, March 2004 - click for larger image It inhabits a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to cerrado and wooded savannah.

The rump and underparts are cinnamon rufous and the male has a black spot, sometimes extending to a band across its chest. The bill is long and decurved with the base of the mandible yellow.
Reddish Hermit, Lençois, Bahia, Brazil, March 2004 - click for larger image They seem to be quite common and are found mostly singly and often near Heliconia flowers. It feeds on nectar using the trap-line method but also catches small insects.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 5, Pages 518 and 542; Hilty & Brown, Plate 16 and Ridgely & Greenfield, Plate 41.
Reddish Hermit, Lençois, Bahia, Brazil, March 2004 - click for larger image
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