Bird Finder for February 10: Rare Hermit Warbler Visiting from the West
Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis
By Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation
This bird has been seen foraging along the water’s edge, across from the Post Office near the Rt. 318 bridge in Barkhamsted. About the size of a Yellow Warbler, this 5-inch, active warbler appears to be foraging for insects.
How to find it: It shouldn’t be hard if the bird is in the area. Check along the water’s edge, then in the trees and shrubs nearby for any actively feeding warbler-sized bird. This one is hard to miss if it is nearby. There’s a good chance other birders will be there as well.
Interesting facts: Although a fairly common western species, the Hermit Warbler has been recorded sporadically in the East and at least once in New Haven. Well out of habitat here in Connecticut, Hermit Warblers are typically found in western coniferous forests, usually in the tops of the tallest trees (like Douglas Fir) and is most often identified by its song, a rapid ze ze ze ze ze zeee!
Sometimes Hermit Warblers hybridize with the western Townsend’s Warbler in the Pacific Northwest where their ranges tend to overlap; the female Hermits preferring to mate with the male Townsends.
Conservation status: The IUCN lists the Hermit Warbler as Least Concern, however, because of its small range and specialized habitat, this warbler is considered vulnerable.
Photo taken in Oregon by Frode Jacobsen/Carolinabirds.org.
