Flying scale throated hermit, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The scale-throated hermit (Phaethornis eurynome) is a species in the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. It is found in the Atlantic forest in north-eastern Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay. This comparatively large hummingbird, which is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome, is easily identified within its range by virtue of it being the only larger, predominantly green and gray-plumaged hermit, with a rather long, decurved, bill. The Scale-throated Hermit inhabits the understory of both lowland and highland forests, as well as old second growth, from southeast Brazil (as far north as southern Bahia) to eastern Paraguay and northeast Argentina, and is recorded at 2250 m at least. It feeds, like most hermit hummingbirds, by trap-lining, although some arthropods are also taken, and the species will periodically also visit feeders to take ‘artificial’ nectar. This hermit is tolerably common in most parts of its range.
The Scale-throated Hermit looks similar to the Pale-bellied Hermit, (Phaethornis anthophilus) found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. The Scale-throated Hermits weigh on average 4 grams or 0.14 oz. Its plumage is mostly green and coppery brown. It has a dark band from its eyes down to its throat contrasting against the white stripe right below. Its most distinctive features are the dark feathers with greyish/brownish edging, giving it a scaly appearance. It has broad white tips to the tail. The upper bill is dark and the lower bill is yellowish. It is generally fairly common and consequently classified as least concern by IUCN.