About Phaethornis idaliae (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1856)
Commonly known as the minute hermit, Phaethornis idaliae is one of the world's smallest bird species. Adults measure between 8.4 and 9.2 cm (3.31 to 3.62 inches) in length and weigh 1.8 to 2.7 g (0.06 to 0.10 oz). Males have dark iridescent green upperparts and a dark brown throat. Females have reddish orange underparts. Both sexes have a black "mask", a pale supercilium, and a pale malar stripe.
The minute hermit is distributed in southeastern Brazil, ranging from approximately Bahia south to Rio de Janeiro state. It lives in the understory of primary forest, lightly disturbed forest (including forest edges), mature secondary forest, and forested islands. It has also been recorded in Eucalyptus plantations located near its preferred habitat. This species occurs at elevations ranging from sea level up to 500 m (1,640 ft).
