Tapajos Hermit Phaethornis aethopygus Scientific name definitions

The Tapajos Hermit occurs in east central Amazonian Brazil, between the Tapajós and the Xingu rivers. Despite this rather broad distribution, for decades it was almost completely overlooked by ornithologists. Originally described as a subspecies, and later considered to represent a hybrid combination, it was not recognized as a valid, distinct species until as recently as 2009. The Tapajos Hermit is a small hermit, and is similar to species such as Streak-throated Hermit (Phaethornis rupurumii) and Black-throated Hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis), which it replaces geographically. In view of widespread deforestation within its range, the IUCN Red List status of the Tapajos Hermit is rated as Near-Threatened.

9 cm. Small hermit with typical medium-long decurved bill. Male has lores brown, cheek and ear-coverts blackish, pale supercilium above and behind eye; olive-green with metallic gloss and with rufescent feather edges above  , rump and uppertail-coverts strongly rufescent; remiges dusky brownish; tail rounded at tip, dusky brownish, feather shafts reddish, all rectrices except outer pair with white at base of outer edges, margins with reduced rufous distally; below, narrow rufescent malar stripe, chin white, throat black fading to rufous over neck and chest, underparts  strongly rufous, undertail-coverts deep rufous; upper mandible black, lower mandible dull yellowish with poorly defined brownish tip; legs yellowish, black claws. Differs from similar P. atrimentalis in having rump more strongly rufescent, subterminal area of central rectrices brownish rufous (not grey), outer margins of rectrices white or grey at base, chin white, gular area more broadly black (almost obliterating malar stripe), entire underparts (including undertail-coverts) more deeply rufescent, no dark pectoral band. Female differs from male mainly in having underparts buffy olive with rufescent tinge, usually with some rufous edging on throat feathers giving the throat patch a reduced and less solid appearance; the uppertail-coverts may be less uniformly rufous, having largely green centres; tail more wedge-shaped, with longer and whitish-tipped central pair of rectrices, and with wider rufous outer edges. Juvenile resembles female; young male gradually develops more rufous below.

Vicinity of Tapajós, Teles Pires and Xingu rivers, S of R Amazon, in NC Brazil.

Song  is a long high-pitched phrase repeated incessantly without pauses between phrases, at a rate of c. 1 phrase per 6–8 seconds. Phrase typically comprises evenly spaced, single, notes followed by accelerating rising ones, and ending with two lower-pitched notes, e.g. “tsi ... tsi ... tsi ... tsi .. tsi-tsi-tse-tsee-chup-chup”.

VULNERABLE. Previously considered Near Threatened. Poorly known. No information on population level. Believed to be declining due to habitat destruction and fragmentation as a result of conversion of forest to pasture, road-building, and subsequent development and settlement, accompanied by illegal logging. Novo Progresso area (SE Pará) currently suffering one of highest rates of deforestation in Amazon. Plans to pave the Cuiabá–Santarém road (the BR 163) represent a major threat, likely to lead to even greater habitat destruction, and opening up soybean markets in Mato Grosso for speedy transfer to the market centre of Santarém (where R Tapajós joins R Amazon); strong government action is urgently required in this generally lawless region of Brazil. Observations of this hummingbird in disturbed forest suggest that, like many members of its family, it can tolerate some degree of habitat degradation; forest fragmentation, however, would likely lead to loss of lekking sites, and total clearance would surely be catastrophic for the species. A small number of places in its range are protected, e.g. Floresta Nacional de Altamira and Jamanxin National Park, but more conservation effort is required. Dedicated surveys are needed in order to determine the species’ precise distribution and approximate numbers. Effective protection should be afforded to the entire forest areas in the Teles Pires, Tapajós and Xingu watersheds.