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Tawny-bellied Hermit

Peter Dexter

Well-known member
This is not autobiographical it's the name of the bird.

18178051524_44525b4d38_b.jpg
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
This is not autobiographical it's the name of the bird.

18178051524_44525b4d38_b.jpg


What a superb little bird! These creatures are amazing in their habit of doing the lek, some kind of group males assmebly of dance, shuffle and sound to attract the females to get an offer to mate!

The females do the rearing of the young. All the gut has to do is dance well!

Wonderful life!

If you are not dinner for a hawk!

That beaks is superb. I guess it can forage in the undergrowth for insects and also drink nectar.

Is this a juvenile or a female with no colored rump?

Asher
 

Peter Dexter

Well-known member
I should have given more information. It is a hummingbird and that beak allows it to draw nectar from deep curved tube flowers.They are not sexually dimorphic so can't tell if it's male or female.
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I should have given more information. It is a hummingbird and that beak allows it to draw nectar from deep curved tube flowers.They are not sexually dimorphic so can't tell if it's male or female.


I should have been more careful, LOL. I thought this was correct and that they are dimorphous:

"This long-billed hermit forages low in the interior of humid and wet forest undergrowth, searching for nectar and arthropods. Males gather at leks for part of the year where they make a squeaky, repeated tseep numerous times each minute. Both sexes have long, white central tail feathers and males boast a bright rufous-orange rump. In Colombia, Tawny-bellied Hermits are the only hermit of the genus Phaethornis restricted to the highlands."



Asher
 

Peter Dexter

Well-known member
Thanks for that correction Asher, I don't often get a chance to observe them but will look more closely at that rump when I do
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I am no expert, Peter, just trying to catch up!

This is a fascinating bird. What is amazing is how the males benefit by dancing together but dont find it worthwhile to stick around to look after their offspring once the feamle is done with them!

Asher
 
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