The **Scale-throated Hermit (*Phaethornis eurynome*)** is a medium-sized hummingbird of the Atlantic Forest, named for the striking pattern of dark, coppery-green scallops or "scales" that adorn the throat of the male, contrasting sharply with its white or buffy underparts. Its general appearance is that of a classic hermit: a long, decurved bill, a brownish-green back, and a long, graduated tail with white tips that flash during its characteristic tail-wagging displays. A unique feature is its specialized, sickle-shaped bill, perfectly evolved to access nectar from heliconia and other curved flowers, while its elongated central tail feathers help with balance as it hovers and feeds. Remarkably, this species is a "lekking" breeder, where males gather in communal display arenas to sing a persistent, high-pitched trill, competing for the attention of females who visit solely to mate.

Faits amusants

The Scale-throated Hermit is a master of disguise in the understory, its iridescent throat scales shifting from green to gold depending on the light, acting as a dazzling form of disruptive camouflage. Unlike many flashy hummingbirds, it engages in a quirky "lekking" behavior where males gather in loose groups and sing monotonous, buzzy notes from the same perch for hours, competing not with aerial acrobatics but with sheer vocal endurance. Its long, decurved bill is perfectly adapted to pilfer nectar from heliconia flowers, but it often cheats by piercing the base of the bloom to steal nectar without pollinating, a lazy trick known as "nectar robbing."

Habitats et répartition

The Scale-throated Hermit primarily inhabits the understory and edges of humid lowland and montane forests, including both primary and secondary growth. It is also frequently found in forest clearings, plantations, and gardens, often near streams or along forest trails where its preferred nectar sources are abundant. Its geographical range is restricted to the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern Brazil, extending into eastern Paraguay and the Misiones Province of northeastern Argentina. This species occurs from near sea level up to elevations of around 1,500 meters, though it is most common in the lower and middle montane zones.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Scale-throated Hermit is a solitary, lekking species where males gather in traditional display areas to compete for female attention. Males perform a distinctive hovering flight and produce a loud, buzzy song from a fixed perch, often using their elongated, decurved bills to hold leaves or branches during courtship. Females alone construct a cone-shaped nest attached to the underside of a drooping palm frond or banana leaf, using spider webs and plant fibers. A typical clutch is two eggs, and the female incubates them for about 18–20 days, then feeds the chicks regurgitated nectar and small arthropods until they fledge at roughly three weeks old. There is no pair bond; males provide no parental care, and females may breed multiple times per season if conditions allow.

Alimentation

The Scale-throated Hermit is a specialized nectarivore, relying almost exclusively on the nectar of long, tubular flowers, particularly those from families like Heliconiaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Rubiaceae. Its long, decurved bill and extendable tongue are perfectly adapted to extract nectar from deep corollas that other hummingbirds cannot access, a relationship that makes it a vital pollinator for these plants. Unlike many hummingbirds, it often forages in a trapline manner, visiting a regular circuit of specific flowers in the dark understory of the Atlantic Forest, and it will supplement its liquid diet with small arthropods like spiders and insects, which it gleans from leaves or catches in short sallies, to obtain essential proteins and amino acids.

Couleurs

The Scale-throated Hermit has mostly dull olive-brown upperparts and a rufous-brown belly. Its most distinctive feature is the throat, which is covered in dusky brown feathers with pale buff edges, creating a scaly or mottled pattern. The tail is long and graduated, with the central feathers being elongated and tipped with white, while the outer tail feathers are rufous with black bands. It has a dark mask through the eye bordered by a pale supercilium and malar stripe, with a decurved black bill and yellow lower mandible. This muted coloration provides camouflage in the dim understory of its forest habitat.