Hermit Warbler

Dendroica occidentalis

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

14 cm (5-6") Fairly common. Western United States Mountain coniferous forests.

Male: gray back. Forehead is yellow. Nape is black. Chin and throat black. Face is all bright yellow (i.e. no black on cheeks). Unstreaked white underparts. Two white wing bars.

Female and Immature: Gray back. All yellow face. Yellow chin. May be some or no black on throat. Unstreaked white underparts.

Hybrids between the Hermit and Townsend's Warblers are sometimes seen. They show the yellowish streaked underparts of the Townsend's Warbler and the yellow head of the Hermit Warbler.

Song: high "zeezle zeezle zeezle zeet-zeet".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Julio Mulero

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Amy McAndrews

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Hermit Warbler in the Huachuca Mtns.-SE AZ-April 22, 2009

Credit: rixandzax

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 3 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Hermit Warbler (Female or Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: None · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Yellow · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:124-hermit-warbler-female-or-immature:1:1 Source: 124 Hermit Warbler (Female or Immature), row 1

Hermit Warbler (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: None · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Yellow · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:123-hermit-warbler-male:1:1 Source: 123 Hermit Warbler (Male), row 1

Townsend's - Hermit Hybrid

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WING STRIPES or PATCHES ?: White or pale gray stripes or patches · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the CHEEKS ?: Yellow · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Yellow · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:131-townsend-s-hermit-hybrid:1:1 Source: 131 Townsend's-Hermit Hybrid, row 1