Photo by Sarah Hadley

Species of the day –March 2, 2013– Stripe-throated hermit (Phaethornis striigularis)

This little hummingbird often seems like a tiny version of the green hermit. It is a bit less than half the weight (2.5 grams or about the same as a penny). It is also brown rather than green. Like its larger cousin the green hermit, the stripe-throated hermit is a trapliner and does not defend flower resources. They are actually quite good at sneaking in undetected and stealing nectar right under the bills of territorial hummingbirds such as Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl). Mauricio and Esteban often refer to these little guys as “mosque” which means “fly”. They are fun birds to work with since they are quite tame and will come and visit the readers even as you are working with them.

This grainy photo is not actually of the hummingbird equivalent of a Sasquatch, but shows a stripe-throated visiting one of the readers. Interestingly, these tiny little guys seem to be moving further than we might have thought!

Photo by April Bartelt