We provide the first description of lek mating behavior in the Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti) based on four days of observation of unmarked birds at a lek in the Paria Peninsula of Venezuela. A minimum of six presumed males displayed within an area of 2835 m². Males displayed from an average of 2.5 perches per male located 1.10–2.25 m above ground on understory plant stems 2.5–4.0 cm thick. While present within the lek, hermits spent 75.9% of their time perched singing, 20.0% perched silent, 1.0% perched preening, 0.2% flying alone, 2.0% flying with a conspecific (in a chase), and 0.9% fighting with a conspecific. Lekking activity appeared to be most intense in the early morning and late afternoon, and least intense during mid-morning. The song comprised a squeaky phrase of about five syllables delivered by displaying males at an average of 27.7 songs (maximum of 33) per min. The behavioral displays resembled those of other lekking species of Phaethornis.