Hooded Warbler: Bird Finder for May 12

Hooded Warbler
Setophaga citrina

There are so many birds arriving (17 species of warbler at our Birdcraft Sanctuary alone today, Wednesday, 5/11) that it’s hard to pick just one. But with numerous reports from around the state, Andy Rzeznikiewicz has chosen Hooded Warbler for this week’s bird. At Birdcraft, the banding team banded a second-year male today, shown below.

By Andy Rzeznikiewicz, Land Manager, Connecticut Audubon Society
What it looks like: A very striking bird with a bright yellow face and underparts, black hood and bib, and a greenish back.

Where and how to find it: This bird nests in the understory of mature forests. It is often found in areas of thick mountain laurel or in thickets of invasive barberry. It is often heard before it can be observed. The call is loud and distinctive — so loud, in fact, that they can sound closer than they really are. Hooded Warblers can be observed high in the canopy or low in the underbrush. 

The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Trail Wood sanctuary in Hampton and Morgan R. Chaney Preserve in Montville have nesting populations found in the barberry thickets. 

At Trail Wood, check the areas of the south woods and behind the writing cabin.  Or join one of the guided bird tours to find them.

What if bird isn’t there: At this time of year, almost anything is possible while bird-watching. Trail Wood has many Scarlet Tanagers, Ovenbirds, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Veerys, Wood Thrushes, Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue-winged Warblers, and Red-eyed Vireos to name a few.

Conservation Status: The Hooded Warbler is actually on the increase! It is a southern bird that is becoming easier to find. It seems to be taking advantage of all the barberry invading the Connecticut forests. The first Hooded Warblers nested at Trail Wood about seven years ago; now at least three pairs nest there. At least four areas in Pomfret now have nesting populations as well, including a property abutting the Bafflin Sanctuary.

Photos courtesy of Tim Andiric.