The needle-billed hermit (Schistes geoffroyi) is a species of hummingbird found in Central and South America. With its long, curved bill and bright green plumage, this tiny bird is a distinctive member of the hermit hummingbird group.
Description
The needle-billed hermit is a relatively large hummingbird, measuring around 11-12 cm in length. The most striking feature of this species is its long, thin bill which curves downward. This specialized bill allows the bird to access nectar from flowers with long, narrow corollas. The bill can measure up to 43 mm in adult males.
The plumage of the needle-billed hermit is predominantly bright emerald green on the back and head. The underside is white with green streaks on the throat and chest. The tail is long and forked with a rufous-cinnamon color. Adult males have a glittering green crown and throat. Females are similar but lack the bright crown patch. Juveniles have buffy edges to the feathers.
Distribution and Habitat
The needle-billed hermit is found from Southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia, Brazil and Peru in South America. Its habitat consists of tropical forests, plantations, and gardens rich in flowering plants. This species occurs mainly at elevations between sea level and 1200 m.
The needle-billed hermit rarely ventures into open areas. It prefers to remain concealed within the lower and middle strata of forest vegetation. It is more abundant in humid, dense forests than in dry, open woodland.
Feeding
As its specialized bill suggests, the needle-billed hermit feeds primarily on nectar from flowers with long, narrow tubular corollas. Some favorite food plants include species in the Heliconia, Costus, Erythrina, and Gesneriaceae families. The shape of the bill allows the bird to access the nectar while hovering or perching.
This species also takes small arthropods such as spiders and insects. Aerial insects are captured during prolonged hovering flights. The needle-billed hermit uses its long bill to glean insects from foliage or crevices in bark.
Reproduction
The breeding season of the needle-billed hermit varies across its range. In Costa Rica and Panama, breeding occurs between March and June. Further south in South America, the season lasts from September to March.
During courtship displays, the male flies in U-shaped patterns in front of the female. If she is receptive, mating will occur. The female builds a small cup nest out of plant fibers, spider webs, and lichens. It is constructed on a low horizontal branch or tree fork 1-4 meters above ground.
The female lays two white eggs. She incubates them alone for 15-19 days. The chicks are fed regurgitated food by the female and fledge at approximately 20-26 days old. Once the young leave the nest, they are not fed again by the parents.
Conservation Status
The needle-billed hermit has a wide distribution and is fairly common throughout most of its range. Its population trend appears to be stable. For these reasons, the IUCN Red List categorizes this species as Least Concern.
However, habitat loss is an issue in parts of its range, particularly Central America. Agricultural expansion and logging are the major threats. The dependence of this species on undisturbed primary forest makes it vulnerable in degraded areas. Eco-tourism and observing good practice guidelines can help protect critical habitat.
Fun Facts
– The needle-billed hermit has a very rapid wingbeat of around 70 beats per second. This allows the bird to hover steadily in one place.
– The wings of the needle-billed hermit make a loud buzzing or whirring sound during flight. This is due to its high wingbeat frequency.
– This species has a long bristly tongue that aids in collecting nectar. The tongue darts in and out of the bill up to 13 times per second.
– The needle-billed hermit got its common name from 18th century naturalists who thought it resembled a hermit or recluse in its forest home.
– Its scientific name Schistes geoffroyi honors the French zoologist Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire who first described the genus.
In summary, the needle-billed hermit is a fascinating neotropical hummingbird adapted to feed on nectar from long tubular flowers. Its specialized bill allows it to access food sources unavailable to other birds. This species prefers undisturbed primary forest where it plays an important role as a pollinator. Maintaining habitat is key to the continued survival of this unique hummingbird.