A black-and-white warbler with a conspicuous bright yellow unpatterned face. Adult male has clear yellow cheeks and forecrown, black throat, black nape that extends onto the hindcrown, gray back with dark streaks, black wings with two white wing bars, unmarked white underparts, and white undertail coverts. Adult female has a slightly duller yellow face, some dusky feathering in the auriculars, dusky green hindcrown and nape, and a mottled yellowish-black throat. First-year birds lack black on head and have dusky auriculars and crown. All plumages show bright white outer tail feathers in flight. Unlike Townsend's and Black-throated Green, Hermit has no black streaks or yellow on underparts. Hybridizes with Townsend's Warbler where ranges overlap in Oregon and Washington, producing a wide range of intergrades that may look mostly like either species.

Length: 12 (cm) Wingspan: 20 (cm)

Voice:

Buzzy, lilting phrases, like other black-throated warblers. Generally higher-pitched and more ringing than Black-throated Gray. Call is a hard chip note.

Habitat:

Mature coniferous forests, especially Douglas-Fir. Winters in montane habitats of Mexico and Central America.

Behavior:

Nest is a cup placed on limb high above ground. Forages at highest levels of canopy; heard more often than seen.

Feeding:

Forages by gleaning foliage; eats insects and spiders.