Koepcke's Hermit, Ermite De Koepcke or Ermitano De Koepcke

Hummingbird Information

The Koepcke's Hermit (Phaethornis koepckeae) - also known as the Ermite De Koepcke or Ermitano De Koepcke - is a South American hummingbird that is found only in Peru.



The Koepcke's Hermits differ from most other hummingbird species in that the color of their plumage is golden-brown, lighter on the underside.

Most hermit species have long, decurved bills - however, the Koepcke's Hermit's is quite straight. Its bill has evolved to fit perfectly into long, trumpet-shaped flowers, allowing them access to nectar that other species cannot reach.

They have two long central tail feathers, tipped with white, buff or ochre. The top of the head is flat and they have a dusky facial mask with two pale facial stripes.

Males and females look alike, with some small differences in bill or tail shape, and depth of plumage color or pattern.



They are mostly found along the forest edge, forest undergrowth or woodland areas.


Nesting / Breeding

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of the Koepcke's Hermit; however, in most hermit species, males form leks (= competitive mating displays) during the breeding season to attract females. Their display may entail wiggling of their tails and singing. Willing females will enter the area for the purpose of choosing a male for mating. Oftentimes she will choose the best singer.



The female Hermit is alone responsible for building the remarkable cone-shaped nest which hangs by a single strong string of spiders' silk and/or rootlets from some overhead support, which could be a branch or the underside of the broad leaves of, for example, Heliconia plants, banana trees or ferns about 3 - 6 ft (1 - 2 m) above ground. However, these unusual nests have been found beneath bridges, in highway culverts and even hanging from roofs inside dark buildings. The nest is often near a stream or waterfall. It is constructed out of plant fibers woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in a protected location. She lines the nest with soft plant fibers, animal hair and feather down, and strengthens the structure with spider webbing and other sticky material, giving it an elastic quality to allow it to stretch to double its size as the chicks grow and need more room.

The average clutch consists of two white eggs, which she incubates alone, while the male defends his territory and the flowers he feeds on (although hermit males tend to be less aggressive than the males of other hummingbird species). The young are born blind, immobile and without any down.




Diet / Feeding

Hermits primarily feed on nectar taken from a variety of brightly colored, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes. Most hermits are associated with heliconias, but will also feed on other nectar sources, such as the flowers of Centropogon, Passiflora, Costus. In general, they favor flowers with the highest sugar content (often red-colored and tubular-shaped).

Hermits are "trap-line feeders". This means that they visit plants along a long route (in this case of up to 0.6 miles or 1 km). Most other hummingbird species maintain feeding territories in areas that contain their favorite plants (those that contain flowers with high energy nectar), and they will aggressively protect those areas. Hummingbirds use their long, extendible, straw-like tongues to retrieve the nectar while hovering with their tails cocked upward as they are licking at the nectar up to 13 times per second. Sometimes they may be seen hanging on the flower while feeding.





Male hermits are generally less aggressive than other male hummingbird species, however, both males and females will defend a feeding territory.


Metabolism and Survival and Flight Adaptions - Amazing Facts

Species Research by Sibylle Johnson




