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Winter: Winters primarily in highlands of Mexico, south to Nicaragua, and rarely to Costa Rica. A small population winters along Pacific coast from west-central Washington south to southern California. Breeding habitat Inhabits dense, moist, and shaded forests composed of towering conifers. The dominant tree species varies within the range, but consists of spruce, Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine, and hemlock. As this species nests and forages in the upper canopy, the undergrowth characteristics seem to be less important. They may be uncommon or patchy in dense rain forests (e.g., the west side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington) and in more open and subalpine coniferous woodlands. Conservation status This species is of moderate conservation importance because of its relatively small distribution and association with commercially valuable coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest. Populations are poorly monitored but appear to be stable at present. Understanding this warbler’s sensitivity to forest fragmentation and the conversion of remaining old-growth forests will be important in conserving future populations. Description Male: Medium-sized, small-billed, warbler with a striking black and yellow pattern on head and underparts. Crown, cheeks, chin, and throat are solid black, the rest of the head (eyebrow and malar region) are bright yellow, including a small arc underneath the eye. Breast is bright yellow, belly and flanks are white, strong black streaks on sides and flanks. The back is yellow-olive with heavy black streaking. Female: Pattern is similar to the adult male, the most obvious differences are the reduced amount of black on the yellow throat and chin, the olive (not black) crown and cheek patches, the finer streaking on the sides and flanks, and less spotting on the back. Juvenile: Olive-brown above with a dull, buffy eyebrow and a brownish-olive cheek patch. Below, dull-white with dusky smudging on the throat and dusky streaks on the flanks. Hybrids: Hermit x Townsend’s Warblers occur regularly in Oregon and Washington. Hybrids typically show head pattern of Hermits with Townsend’s body coloring (some yellow on the breast below the black throat and streaking on the flanks). More rarely, hybrids may show the face pattern of the Townsend’s with the coloring of a Hermit’s body (no yellow on the breast and only limited streaking on the sides). Vocalizations Songs: A high, wheezy, zwee zwee zwee zwee sweezit. The song rises in pitch then often drops at the end; the pattern is quite variable. An alternate song begins with a rapid series of short, slightly buzzy notes and concludes with more typical raspy notes: zi-zi-zi-zi-zi-zi, zwee zwee. Calls: Very similar to Black-throated Green or Hermit warblers, but slightly sharper and higher: tip or tsik . The Flight note is a thin, high see , lacking any buzzy quality. Foraging strategy Birds on the breeding grounds are difficult to observe, as they spend most of their time high in the crowns of tall conifers. Typically, insects are gleaned from clumps of conifer foliage and leaf surfaces of deciduous trees, either while perched on the branch or while hovering; occasionally flying insects are caught in the air. In winter, this species often forages close to or on the ground. Diet Almost exclusively insects and spiders, including caterpillars, moths, winged insects, and other invertebrates commonly found on coniferous and deciduous foliage; Spruce Budworm important where present. Will come to feeders for suet, nuts, and fruit; in low-latitude cloud forests, will feed on honey dew excreted by scale insects. Behavior and displays Courtship Nesting Nest site: Nests almost exclusively in conifers, particularly firs and spruce. The nest is typically placed on a main limb or in a group of branchlets, where the nest is well concealed by foliage; does not typically place nest in a fork or crotch. Preferred sites are in areas of old growth with towering trees, no preferences for understory characteristics. Height: Nests are built high in conifers, exceptionally as low as 10 feet (3 meters) and as high as 100 feet (30 meters). Nest: A bulky but shallow cup of plant fibers, slender twigs, and bark woven together; cup is lined with moss, plant downs, and hair. Not known whether the male helps build. Eggs: 3-5 smooth and slightly glossy eggs are speckled and spotted with chestnut-red, brown, and brownish- or purplish-gray. Incubation period: Incubation by female alone, usually lasting 11-14 days from clutch completion to the hatching of the last egg. Nestling period: Both parents feed nestlings, male feeds young while female brooding. Young leave nest 8-11 days after hatching. Fledgling period: On day of fledging, young typically are within 80 feet (25 meters) of nest. Usually observed in or under dense vegetation on ground or in shrub layer, but occasionally observed in trees near nest. Parents appear to split brood, each provisioning 1-3 young with food. Broods: No information. Cowbird Parasitism: A known cowbird host, but little information on frequency of parasitism, success of parasite, or response to parasitic mother, eggs, or nestlings. |
northern Washington; inland
from southern Yukon south to western Montana, central Idaho, and Cascade Mountains of
central Oregon. 
