Green Hermit vs Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Phaethornis guy compared with Amazilia tzacatl

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Green Hermit	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family same	Trochilidae	Trochilidae
Genus	Phaethornis	Amazilia
Species	Phaethornis guy	Amazilia tzacatl

Evolutionary Relationship

Green Hermit and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird share a common ancestor at the Family level: Trochilidae.

Conservation Status

Green Hermit

LC — Least Concern

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Green Hermit	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Green Hermit

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Green Hermit

A large hermit hummingbird of humid rainforest in Central America and the northern Andes, green hermits are named for the males' predominantly green plumage — unusual among hermits which are generally brown and buff. Females have blue-green upper parts and rufous underparts. Found from Costa Rica to Peru and Venezuela at elevations up to 1,600 meters in forest understory. They are important pollinators of large Heliconia and Calathea flowers along the forest floor, following established trap-line routes.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

One of the most common hummingbirds in Central America and northwestern South America, rufous-tailed hummingbirds are medium-sized with green upper parts and a diagnostic bright rufous-orange tail. Found from Mexico to Ecuador and Trinidad in a wide range of habitats including forest edges, gardens, plantations, and secondary growth from sea level to 2,100 meters. Aggressive territory defenders at feeders and flowering plants, they are frequently seen in gardens across their range. Listed as Least Concern.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway 🇻🇪 Venezuela