Setophaga occidentalis
Status: Rare casual spring migrant.
Documentation: Photo: 15 May 2002 male 5.5 miles north of Creighton, Knox Co (Brogie 2002, 2003).
Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022).
This species and Townsend’s Warbler hybridize commonly in the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon (Morrison and Hardy 1983). Although not reported for Nebraska, there is a Sep record for Colorado (eBird.org, accessed Jan 2024).
Spring: There are two documented records:
15 May 2002 male near Creighton, Knox Co (Brogie 2002, 2003)
21 May 2010 Crescent Lake NWR, Garden Co (Brogie 2011)
There are two other undocumented reports, both of which may be correct. A “possible” Hermit Warbler was reported at NNF Bessey 26 May 2002. Two birds seen in McPherson Co 21 Sep 1973 were described briefly (Bassett 1974); while suggestive of this species, the description did not adequately eliminate Black-throated Green Warbler, which it resembles in fall (Bray et al 1986).
Most (20/23) records from nearby states are in spring, in the period 24 Apr-26 May. (eBird.org, accessed Jan 2024). In eastern Colorado there are about 15 records, 14 from 24 Apr-25 May and one in fall, 8 Oct-12 Dec 2012; the single Kansas record is 7 May (Thompson et al 2011), one in northwestern Missouri 20 Dec 1969 (Robbins 2018), one in Illinois 27 Dec 2002-17 Jan 2003, one in Wisconsin 27 Apr 1982, three in Minnesota 26 Apr 2023, 3 May and 14 May (Janssen 1987), and one in South Dakota 8 May 2014.
Images
Abbreviations
NNF: Nebraska National Forest
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
Literature Cited
Bassett, O. 1974. Hermit Warbler reported in Nebraska. NBR 42: 42.
Bray, T.E., B.K. Padelford, and W.R. Silcock. 1986. The birds of Nebraska: A critically evaluated list. Published by the authors, Bellevue, Nebraska, USA.
Brogie, M.A. 2002. Hermit Warbler in Knox County: First accepted record for Nebraska. NBR 70: 119-121.
Brogie, M.A. 2003. 2002 (14th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 71: 136-142.
Brogie, M.A. 2011. 2010 (22nd) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 79: 99-111.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Janssen, R.B. 1987. Birds in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Morrison, M.L., and J.W. Hardy. 1983. Hybridization between Hermit and Townsend’s Warblers. Murrelet 64: 65-72.
Robbins, M.B. 2018. The Status and Distribution of Birds in Missouri. University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Thompson, M.C., C.A. Ely, B. Gress, C. Otte, S.T. Patti, D. Seibel, and E.A. Young. 2011. Birds of Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 15 Jan 2024