Setophaga occidentalis, the hermit warbler, is a small perching bird. It is a New World warbler species. Hermit warblers are a widespread but extremely secretive species of bird found in open coniferous forests.
Quick Overview: Setophaga Occidentalis – Hermit Warbler
Body size: Around 5 in (13 cm) and a weight of 9 g (0.3 oz)
Main colors: Gray, White, Black, Yellow
Range: Southern United States
Migratory Bird: Yes
Best time of the year to see in the U.S.: June, July, August, September
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Hermit Warbler Description
Gray upper parts, white underparts, and black-streaked flanks characterize this little warbler. Yellowhead with a black throat and nape. Gray wings with two white bands. Black is the color of the bill, legs, and feet.
Size
These birds have a length of 5 in (13 cm) and a weight of 9 g (0.3 oz). Their wings could range from 7.75 in (20 cm).
Feeding
As with the majority of warblers, the hermit warbler subsists solely on insects and spiders and is frequently seen probing for food upside-down from the tips of fir branches, similar to a chickadee.
Habitat
The Hermit Warbler breeds in coniferous forests of southern Washington, Oregon, and central and northern California’s Coast, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges. Typically, it saddles its nest on limbs much above ground and conceals it with branches.
Behavior
The species is so named because it appears to be solitary and secretive, feeding primarily in the interior and canopy of thick coniferous forests. The Hermit Warbler breeds in coniferous forests of southern Washington, Oregon, and central and northern California’s Coast, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges.
Setophaga Occidentalis Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Parulidae
- Genus: Setphaga
- Species: Setophaga occidentalis
Best time of the year to see
The best time to see these birds in the United States is during the summer season (June – September).
Distribution of the Hermit Warbler in the USA
Breeding occurs along the Pacific Coast from Washington to northern California, as well as in the Sierra Nevada. They spend the winters around the southern California coast and in central and southern Mexico, south of the US-Mexico border.
The Hermit Warbler can be found in the following states in the United States – Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.