Hermit warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hermit warbler |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Setophaga
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| Species: |
occidentalis
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| Range of S. occidentalis Breeding range Winter range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dendroica occidentalis |
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The hermit warbler (Setophaga occidentalis) is a small perching bird. It is a type of New World warbler, known for its bright colors and active nature. These birds are quite small, usually about 5.5 inches (14 cm) long. They weigh between 0.3 and 0.5 ounces (9-13 grams), which is about the same as a few quarters. Their wingspan can reach about 7.9 inches (20 cm).
Contents
What Does a Hermit Warbler Look Like?
Hermit warblers have a striking appearance. Their backs are dark gray, and their undersides are white. You might notice black streaks on their sides. Their wings feature two clear white bars that cross diagonally.
The most noticeable part of a hermit warbler is its head, which is mostly bright yellow. Male hermit warblers have a distinct black patch on their throat. Females have less black on their throat, and young birds have no black throat at all. This difference helps you tell them apart!
Where Do Hermit Warblers Live?
These birds are common but can be quite shy. They prefer to live in open coniferous forests, which are forests filled with cone-bearing trees like pines and firs.
During the summer, hermit warblers breed along the west coast of the United States, reaching as far north as Washington. When winter arrives, many of them migrate south. Some might stay in southwestern California. However, most travel all the way to Central America, going as far south as Panama. This long journey helps them find warmer weather and plenty of food.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Hermit warblers build neat, cup-shaped nests. They use materials like small stems, grass, twigs, and pine needles. These nests are usually placed high up in a conifer tree, often near the very tip of a branch. This helps keep their eggs safe from predators.
The female hermit warbler typically lays between 3 and 5 eggs. These eggs are white and have many brown and lilac speckles. Not much is known about how long the eggs take to hatch or other details about their nesting habits.
What Do Hermit Warblers Eat?
Like most warblers, hermit warblers have a diet mainly of insects and spiders. They are very skilled at finding food. You might often see them hanging upside-down from the ends of conifer branches. They do this to probe for insects hidden in the needles and bark, much like a chickadee would. This hunting technique helps them find tiny bugs that other birds might miss.
See also
In Spanish: Reinita cabecigualda para niños
