How do you identify a Needle-billed Hermit?

The needle-billed hermit is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Needle-billed Hermit?

The Needle-billed Hermit is a tiny sized bird weighing about 5 g.

Where can you see a Needle-billed Hermit?

The Needle-billed Hermit occurs in 3 countries, including Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.

What birds look similar to a Needle-billed Hermit?

The Needle-billed Hermit is most easily confused with the Mexican Hermit, the Koepcke's Hermit and the White-browed Hermit.

Is the Needle-billed Hermit endangered?

The Needle-billed Hermit is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Needle-billed Hermit

Phaethornis philippii

Hummingbirds · Apodiformes · Rare

The Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii) is a rare hummingbird found in 3 countries, weighing about 5 g. The needle-billed hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.

Least ConcernRareEats nectarforestcup nest5 g

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 1 — Photo: Claude Kolwelter · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 2 — Photo: Claude Kolwelter · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 3 — Photo: Ben Hayden · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 4 — Photo: Ben Hayden · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 5 — Photo: Claude Kolwelter · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 6 — Photo: Ben Hayden · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 7 — Photo: (c) Claude Kolwelter, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Needle-billed Hermit (Phaethornis philippii), photo 8 — Photo: (c) Ben Hayden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Needle-billed Hermit

The needle-billed hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The needle-billed hermit is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. Males weigh 4 to 6 g (0.14 to 0.21 oz) and females 4 to 5.5 g (0.14 to 0.19 oz). It is one of the few hermit hummingbirds with a nearly straight bill. Its upperparts are dark bronzy green with a dull rufous rump. The tail is mostly dark green. The innermost pair of tail feathers are longer than the others and have long white tips; the others have broad buffy rufous tips. The face has a black "mask" bordered with narrow pale streaks. The underparts are orange. Voice: The needle-billed hermit's song is "a continuous series of single, upslurred high-pitched 'tsee' notes".

Where it lives

Peru Brazil Bolivia

When to see it

Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Needle-billed Hermit?: The needle-billed hermit is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Needle-billed Hermit?: The Needle-billed Hermit is a tiny sized bird weighing about 5 g.
Where can you see a Needle-billed Hermit?: The Needle-billed Hermit occurs in 3 countries, including Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to a Needle-billed Hermit?: The Needle-billed Hermit is most easily confused with the Mexican Hermit, the Koepcke's Hermit and the White-browed Hermit.
Is the Needle-billed Hermit endangered?: The Needle-billed Hermit is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Needle-billed Hermit for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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