Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina

Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina. Photograph taken within a residential community in Hereford, Arizona, May 2020. Photograph and identification courtesy of Karen LeMay, Sierra Vista, Arizona (naturewideimages.com).

Background and Identification

The Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina, is a member of the Parulidae Family of New Wood Warblers, which has one hundred eleven species placed in eighteen genera, and is one of thirty-four global species of the Setophaga Genus. They are known in Mexico as reinita encapuchada.

The Hooded Warbler is a small migratory songbird. The adult males have distinctive plumage, with a conspicuous black hood with contrasting yellow cheeks and forehead. The females have black hoods that vary greatly. Their plumage does not undergo seasonal changes.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The Hooded Warbler is found in a wide variety of forested habitats, bushy fields, and shrub at elevations up to 1,100 m (3,600 feet) but is most abundant at lower elevations. On the Yucatán Peninsula they are common in wetter habitats. The species is considered a “gap specialist”, as its habitat, whether in large forest tracts or small fragments, typically includes gap or edge habitat that is preferred by females for nesting. During overwintering the individuals become highly territorial, segregating by sex, with the males found in mature forest and the females in scrub, secondary forests, and disturbed habitats. Their diets consist primarily of insects and other small arthropods. The males vigorously defend their nests and feeding territories and normally mate with a single partner. About one-third of the females are known for the extramarital affairs producing offspring fathered by a neighboring male. The males are known for their distinctive songs. Their life span is unknown. The Hooded Warbler in general, is poorly studied and very little about their biology and behavioral patterns has been documented.

The Hooded Warbler summers in the northcentral and southeastern United States and is a winter visitor to Mexico, primarily within the Yucatán Peninsula. They are uncommon but have been seen with some regularity in western Mexico in the state of Nayarit, and on one occasion in the state of Jalisco. The photograph above documents a highly unusual citing of the species in southern Arizona.

Common Misidentifications

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective the Hooded Warbler is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely-distributed populations. Their populations have been significantly negatively impacted by human development in some regions but also have been increasing in certain regions. They are of current research interest due the females’ choice of territory and social mating from year to year and the locations they utilize.