Amazilia Hummingbird vs Needle-billed Hermit
Amazilis amazilia compared with Phaethornis philippii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amazilia Hummingbird | Needle-billed Hermit |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazilis amazilia | Phaethornis philippii |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 11.4 cm (4.5 in) |
| Weight | 5.066666666666666 g (0.18 oz) | 4.9 g (0.17 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on nectar from flowering shrubs and epiphytes. Catches small insects and spiders to meet … | Nectarivore following trap-lining routes through Heliconia and Costus flowers. Catches small arthropods for protein. |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Amazilia Hummingbird only
Needle-billed Hermit only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Amazilia Hummingbird
Buzzy, high-pitched trill with insect-like quality; rapid sustained vibration barely distinguishable from insects.
Needle-billed Hermit
Soft, whispered twittering with delicate quality; barely audible sequence of minute high notes almost lost in ambient sound.
Geographic Range & Migration
Amazilia Hummingbird
Found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Resident in desert scrub and river valleys.
Needle-billed Hermit
Found in lowland rainforest of Peru and adjacent Bolivia in the upper Amazon basin. Sea level to 600 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Amazilia Hummingbird
Needle-billed Hermit
How to Tell Them Apart
Amazilia Hummingbird
Coucal (Celebes): dark glossy black above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
Needle-billed Hermit
Minute Hermit: metallic green above; buff underparts; white postocular stripe; tiny size; decurved bill; streaked throat; pale belly
About These Birds
Amazilia Hummingbird
A medium-sized hummingbird (9-10 cm) found in arid coastal lowlands of western Peru and Ecuador. Green plumage with variable rusty-orange underparts. Nectarivore of desert scrub, gardens, and river valleys. Adapted to arid Pacific environments.
Needle-billed Hermit
A medium-sized hermit hummingbird (12-14 cm) found in humid lowland forests from eastern Peru to western Brazil. Green plumage with rufous underparts and an unusually straight, needle-like bill for a hermit. Nectarivore of Amazonian forest undergrowth.