Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2018-35
| Common name: |
Hermit Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Setophaga occidentalis |
| Date: | 08-12-2018 |
| Time: | 09:00am |
| Length of time observed: | 5 minutes |
| Number: | 2 |
| Age: | Hatch year |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Hell's Backbone |
| County: | Garfield |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 9,000ft |
| Distance to bird: | 10m-5m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x 42 |
| Weather: | sunny |
| Light Conditions: | excellent |
| Description: Size of bird: | 5 inches |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | typical warbler |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | yellow head, white belly, dark back |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | typical warbler |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I saw 2 different hatch year Hermit Warbler the same morning 1/2 hour and 1 mile
apart. 1st bird was at Hell's Backbone bridge. As I was crossing the bridge, I
heard a warbler chip, looked up and saw a lone warbler fly into a Limber Pine on
the ridge 10m away giving a great look, then it quickly flew off up-slope and
was gone.2nd bird was in a mixed species foraging flock back at my camp in tall
ponderosa pines and aspens, this one was less than 5m away and allowed some
photos to be taken. Both had a yellow head with faint olive marking on the
cheek, a white breast and belly without any streaking, and a dark grayish back
with prominent wingbars. Also noted white outer tail feathers when they
flew.Lack of any black on the throat made them both hatch year birds, adults
should have some black in the throat. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Heard the "chup" chip. |
| Behavior: | foraging in foliage of pines and aspen |
| Habitat: | Mixed Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, Douglas Fir and Limber Pine forest |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Townsend's Warbler are similar, but have an olive back, dark mask on the face,
streaking on the flanks, and yellow on the breast and flanks. A Hybrid
Townsend's X Hermit should also show some streaking on the flanks and black
markings in the face |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes,many |
| References consulted: | memory |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 08-14-18 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S47823752 |