SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #22

California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.

Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain


WHAT’S IN A NAME

Hermit Warbler – Setophaga occidentalis
Name Roots: (Gr. moth; -phagos -eating –  L. occidentalis, “western”)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Hermit Warblers are dark gray in coloration on top, and white below, and their flanks are streaked with black. The wings have two diagonal white wing bars. The majority of the hermit warbler’s head is yellow, and males have a dark black throat, while females have much less black on their throat bib and immature birds have no black throat.

DISTRIBUTION & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA

The Hermit Warbler is a Common Summer Visitor of the Sierra Nevada in the Lower and Upper Montane biotic zones.

eBird Bar Chart

CONSERVATION STATUS – IUCN Red List Category

The Hermit Warbler (HEWA) is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Redlist Classification Justification: This species has a very large range, the population trend appears to be stable, and the population size is extremely large. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (DataZone HEWA Link)

PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP Dry Brush Filter

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ABOUT THE SITE

With a primary focus on birds, each blog series has it’s own unique look at the wildlife and wild places encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world.

ABOUT ME

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 40 years, I taught and led in public education, helping students discover the wonder woven into every corner of the natural world. That same drive has carried me through decades of citizen science and conservation work. As an active member of the Modesto Camera Club, I’ve developed a photographic practice that blends natural history with visual artistry, and my award‑winning images have been featured across the Internet on dozens of sites and field‑oriented platforms. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain