Scale-throated Hermit

Identification

The scale-throated hermit is a medium-sized hummingbird measuring 14 to 14.5 cm in length, with males weighing 4.5 to 6 g and females 4 to 5 g. Its most distinctive feature is its dark throat, whose feathers have lighter edges creating the characteristic scaly appearance that gives the species its common name. The bird is olive green above with grayish underparts, and displays a striking black "mask" across the face framed by a pale supercilium and gular stripe. The tail feathers are tipped with white, with the middle pair noticeably elongated. Females can be distinguished from males by their shorter wings and less strongly curved bill. The two subspecies are identical in plumage, though P. e. paraguayensis is significantly smaller than the nominate form.

Range & Habitat

This species is found across three South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The nominate subspecies inhabits southeastern Brazil from southeastern Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul, while P. e. paraguayensis occurs in eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina's Misiones Province. The scale-throated hermit favours the understory of diverse forest types within the Atlantic Forest biome, including lowland and montane rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, and mature secondary forest. It has been recorded at elevations ranging from 100 to 2,250 m, demonstrating considerable adaptability across different altitudinal zones.

Behaviour & Diet

Like other hermit hummingbirds, the scale-throated hermit is a "trap-line" feeder, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants to feed on nectar. In addition to nectar, it supplements its diet with small arthropods. The species is assumed to be sedentary, though data on its movement patterns remain limited. The breeding season in Brazil runs from September to March, with the female constructing a distinctive long cone-shaped cup nest made of plant fibres and spider web, suspended beneath a drooping leaf. These nests are often decorated with the lichen Spiloma roseum, which can stain both the eggs and incubating female red. The female incubates a clutch of two eggs alone. The bird's vocalizations are variable but typically consist of 2–4 notes, such as "tsi-tseee....tsi-tseee" repeated in pattern, with calls including a plaintive "tsew" and an upslurred "tsee."

Best Time & Places to See It

The scale-throated hermit is common throughout its range and occurs in several protected areas, making it a reasonably reliable species to encounter. In Brazil, the breeding season from September to March offers the best opportunity for observation when birds are most active. The species' preference for forest understory means visitors should focus their attention on the lower vegetation levels within Atlantic Forest reserves and protected areas across southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.

Photography Tips

Photographers should look for this species in shaded understory habitats where it feeds on flowering plants along its regular feeding routes. The scaly throat pattern and facial mask provide excellent identifying features for close-up photography. The bird's small size and forest habitat mean fast shutter speeds and patience are essential. During the breeding season, photographers may locate nests suspended beneath drooping leaves, though care should be taken not to disturb nesting females.