Mexican Hermit
Common name: Mexican Hermit
Scientific name: Phaethornis mexicanus
Clades: Phaethornithinae - Hermits
Endemic to Mexico
The Mexican hermit is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long.
Mexican Hermits are spectacular large hummingbird that is endemic to the humid tropical lowlands and foothills of western Mexico. A shady understory and edges of forests are preferred, especially when patches of Heliconia flowers are present. Males pump their tails while sitting on perches in the understory, singing tirelessly. With its long white tail streamers nearly vertical, it hovers briefly while feeding before shooting off with an explosive squeak. There are stripes on the face, the bill is long and arched, and the plumage is rather drab. It does not share its range with any other hummingbird species.
In the past, Mexican Hermit and its two subspecies were included in the Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris), the more widespread species found in Colombia, the western coast of Ecuador, and northwestern Peru. While Mexican Hermits are larger and have longer tails, their plumage differs in several details from Long-tailed Hermits. In addition, their songs and displays differ somewhat.
2 subspecies:
P. m. griseoventer (Jalisco)
Distribution W Mexico (Nayarit to Colima).P. m. mexicanus (Mexican)
Distribution SW Mexico (W Guerrero to SE Oaxaca).
