Acadia National Park

Description  ADULT MALE Has mostly olive-green upperparts, although wings are subtly darker. Face is bright yellow and framed by black surrounding area from rear of crown, nape, and sides of neck to throat. Underparts are bright yellow and legs are pink. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but black elements of male's head pattern are much reduced in extent and intensity. IMMATURE Recalls adult female (with pale yellow face), but black elements of head pattern are entirely olive.

Dimensions  Length: 5 1/2" (14 cm)

Habitat  Locally common summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to broadleaved forests with a dense understory; often close to water; winters in South America.

Observation Tips  Presence is easiest to detect in first instance by listening for its song.

Range  Plains, Great Lakes, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest, Southeast, Eastern Canada, New England, California, Rocky Mountains, Texas

Voice  Song is a rapid series of sweet whistles: wee'tu-wee'tu-wee'tu-wee-tee-tu; call is a sharp chip.

Discussion  Colorful and strikingly marked wood-warbler. Forages actively for insects and usually feeds at fairly low levels in foliage; sometimes flycatches. Often flicks its relatively long tail and reveals extensive white on outer feathers. Sexes are separable.

Migration Info  The Hooded Warbler spends the winter from southern Mexico to Panama, but is most common in the vicinity of the Yucatan Peninsula. Males and females maintain separate winter territories to which they return each year. Males prefer semi-evergreen forests in the uplands, while females are found almost exclusively in late successional shrubland and seasonally flooded areas. Hooded Warblers migrate across the Gulf and usually make landfall on the upper Texas coast or in Louisiana.