Green Hermit

Identification

The Green Hermit is a large hummingbird measuring 13.5 cm in length and weighing 6.3 g. Males are predominantly dark green with a blue-green rump, distinctive dark mask through the eye bordered by buff stripes above, below, and down the centre of the throat. The long, decurved reddish bill and tapered tail with relatively short white-tipped central feathers are characteristic features. During courtship displays at leks, males wiggle their tail feathers while producing a repeated "swark" call. Females present a notably different appearance: sooty gray underparts, an even longer bill, and a considerably longer tail than males.

This species is vocal and easily identified by its loud "zurk" call, distinct from the males' lekking vocalizations. The pronounced sexual dimorphism—with females being duller and more heavily proportioned—helps separate them from other hermit species.

Range & Habitat

The Green Hermit is a resident breeder from southern Central America, including Costa Rica and Panama, southward through northern South America to north-eastern Venezuela, Trinidad, and the northern Andes of eastern Peru. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate P. g. guy found in Venezuela and Trinidad, and the slightly smaller P. g. apicalis in the American Cordillera, where the sexes show greater similarity in plumage.

This species strongly favors primary rainforest and wet premontane forest undergrowth, typically near water sources and in hilly terrain. In the Colombian Cordillera Oriental, it occurs between 650–1,750 m elevation in forests with approximately 25 m canopy height, dominated by Elaeagia palms and similar vegetation with abundant undergrowth and epiphytes. While tolerant of some habitat modification such as subsistence farmland, it actively avoids secondary forest when primary habitat remains available.

Behaviour & Diet

The Green Hermit feeds exclusively on nectar supplemented with small insects, showing a marked preference for flowers measuring 30–50 mm in length and 2–7 mm in width, though it visits flowers ranging from 15 mm to 75 mm. At Monteverde, Costa Rica, favored food plants include yellow jacobinia, Razisea spicata, Pitcairnia brittoniana, spiral ginger, Drymonia species, Heliconia tortuosa, and Malvaviscus palmanus. Secondary food sources encompass various Gesneriaceae, Heliconiaceae, Acanthaceae, and other flowering families.

Males assemble at traditional leks for elaborate courtship displays, where they perform synchronized vocalizations and tail-wiggling displays. In the Colombian Cordillera Oriental, active leks occur distinctly between September and November, indicating a concentrated breeding season. The female lays a single egg in a conical nest suspended beneath a large leaf, typically positioned over water. Incubation lasts 17–18 days, with fledging occurring after 21–23 additional days.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Green Hermit is best observed during the breeding season from September through November in the Colombian Cordillera Oriental and other parts of its range. Primary rainforest and wet premontane forest undergrowth near water sources, particularly in hilly areas, offer the best opportunities for viewing. Monteverde in Costa Rica, mentioned frequently in ornithological literature, represents an accessible location for observing this species and studying its breeding ecology and floral preferences.

Early morning hours typically offer optimal viewing conditions when the bird is most active. Locating active lek sites significantly increases encounter probability, as males are most vocal and visible during their courtship assemblies.

Photography Tips

Capturing images of the Green Hermit requires patience and familiarity with its preferred habitats and behaviors. Position yourself near flowering plants known to attract this species, particularly those within the 30–50 mm length range. The male's distinctive dark mask and blue-green rump provide excellent diagnostic features for identification in photographs, while the female's sooty underparts and longer tail present contrasting subjects.

Lek sites offer predictable photography opportunities, as males return regularly to display perches. Early morning light illuminates the green plumage effectively, revealing the subtle iridescent qualities of the rump. A fast shutter speed is essential for capturing the rapid tail-wiggling displays and aerial courtship movements. The bird's preference for forest understory near water means photographers should be prepared for challenging low-light conditions typical of rainforest environments.