Fun Hooded Warbler Facts For Kids

Martha Martins
May 18, 2023 By Martha Martins
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Smriti Chaudhary
Hooded warbler facts about a bird with black hood and throat.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.1 Min

The hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina, is species of small migratory bird. They belong to the Parulidae family. These birds are found widely in Mexico and Central America.

Hooded warblers' wintering grounds are situated in eastern North America. A black hooded warbler hood is the characteristic that distinguishes males from females. The color of feathers for hooded warblers is olive green and bright yellow. Males and females of the species have habitat separation.

Both build their nests. Their primary food source is insects. A hooded warbler song is their basic communication medium; a hooded warbler call.

As per IUCN Red List, the conservation status of these birds is of Least Concern, indicating that no efforts for their conservation are required as of now. Here are some interesting facts about the hooded warbler birds belonging to the family Parulidae.

After reading these interesting facts about the hooded warbler, do check our other articles on the yellow warbler and the hooded oriole.

Hooded Warbler Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a hooded warbler?

A hooded warbler Setophaga citrina is a bird. These warblers are known to reach sexual maturity at an early stage of life.

What class of animal does a hooded warbler belong to?

A hooded warbler falls under the Aves class. The Aves class consists of birds.

How many hooded warblers are there in the world?

There are approximately 5.2 million hooded warblers in the world. Their population seems to be increasing with time, hence there are no concerns regarding their conservation at present.

Where does a hooded warbler live?

Hooded warbler locations are very specific. A hooded warbler lives in the woods. They like to live in groups and even prey in groups.

What is a hooded warbler's habitat?

A hooded warbler loves dense understories in Mexico and Central America for their habitat. This species is found in mountains with dense forests.

It can live at a height of up to 3,600 ft. It spends its winter in low-lying shrubs, tropical forests, and open bushy fields. Female hooded warblers build a nest with the help of grass and plants which resemble dead leaves.

Who do hooded warblers live with?

Hooded warblers are very territorial. The male and female Warbler of the species have their territories marked and do not cross them unless for breeding.

How long does a hooded warbler live?

A hooded warbler lives for approximately 8 years. Warblers succumb to death after 8-9 years as Warblers are known to have a short lifespan.

How do they reproduce?

Both male and female hooded warblers reach sexual maturity at the age of one year. Both the male and female of these species sing to attract a mating partner.

The female birds build a nest in a low-lying area, in their habitat, just before the mating season. The warbler's mating season is from April to June. The males and females cross territories only for breeding.

After the eggs are laid the female takes care of them and feeds them all by herself; at the same time, the male defends her territory. North America is used as a breeding ground by these birds.

What is their conservation status?

Their conservation status is of Least Concern as per the IUCN Red List. This means the warblers' population is stable and far from becoming extinct shortly.

Hooded Warbler Fun Facts

What do hooded warblers look like?

A hooded warbler on a branch.

The upper body and color of feathers for hooded warblers is olive or brown-green. The lower body is bright yellow. Male and female hooded warblers are distinguished by the characteristic black hood on the head and neck of a male hooded warbler.

A female hooded warbler does not have a black hood. The males do not have this hood from birth, but it develops when they reach maturity. Both the male and female hooded warblers have white outer tail feathers.

How cute are they?

Hooded warblers are very cute indeed. They are tiny little birds that are very nice to look at.

How do they communicate?

Hooded warblers communicate through sound, they have a specific set of sounds. The sound of hooded warbler birds is of two different song types.

One in which the same tune is repeated over and over again and the second in which three or four tunes are used in an alternating pattern. It is believed that the alternating song is used for normal communication while the other is used for attracting mates.

How big is a hooded warbler?

A hooded warbler ranges between 0.3-0.4 oz (9-12 g) in weight and up to Up to 5.1 in (13 cm). It is a very small bird, even smaller than a sparrow. Hooded warblers are up to seven times smaller than an average-sized crow.

How fast can a hooded warbler fly?

A hooded warbler can fly at a speed of around 20 mph (32.2 kph).

How much does a hooded warbler weigh?

A hooded warbler weighs 0.3-0.4 oz (9-12 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for male and female hooded warbler species.

What would you call a baby hooded warbler?

A baby hooded warbler is called a baby hooded warbler or a chick.

What do they eat?

A hooded warbler eating a caterpillar is a very common sight. Hooded warblers eat insects like caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, spiders, and any other small insects they can find!

Are they friendly?

Hooded warblers are very friendly. These birds are often seen visiting gardens and potted plants in people’s houses.

Would they make a good pet?

Hooded warblers would make a good pet. They are territorial birds and hence do not require company. They can thrive perfectly well in a homely environment provided that they have enough access to the outside world.

Did you know...

Hooded warblers migrate to eastern North America and the United States for breeding in winter.

Brown-headed cowbirds exhibit brood parasitism and lay their eggs in female hooded warbler’s nests.

A hooded warbler’s nest looks like a clump of dead leaves.

A hooded warbler female is found in seasonally flooded areas, whereas a male hooded warbler is found in mature forests.

A male hooded warbler sings ‘tawee tawee tawee-teeoo’.

Are hooded warblers territorial?

Hooded warblers are highly territorial birds on their wintering grounds. Males and females use different habitats. These birds do not cross each other's territory unless for breeding.

What is the similarity between hooded warblers and American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, and Black-throated Blue Warblers?

A noticeable similarity between hooded warblers, American redstarts, northern parulas, and black-throated blue warblers is that the males and females of their species have different habitats. These birds are extremely territorial.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including the palm warbler and the Senegal parrot.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Hooded Warbler coloring pages.

Hooded Warbler Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Caterpillars, moths, insects, grasshoppers

What Type of Animal were they?

Carnivore

Average Litter Size?

3-5 eggs

How Much Did They Weigh?

0.3-0.4 oz (9-12 g)

What habitat Do they Live In?

understory of forests

Where Do They Live?

north america, easter united states, canada

How Long Were They?

Up to 5.1 in (13 cm)

How Tall Were They?

N/A

Class

Aves

Genus

Setophaga

Family

Parulidae

Scientific Name

Setophaga citrina

What Do They Look Like?

Olive-green above, bright yellow below, white outer tail feathers

Skin Type

Feathers

What Are Their Main Threats?

habitat loss, deforestation, hunting

What is their Conservation Status?

Least Concern
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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_warbler

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Warbler/id

https://abcbirds.org/bird/hooded-warbler/

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Wilsonia_citrina/#:~:text=The%20lifespan%20of%20W.is%20about%208%2D9%20years.

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Written by Martha Martins

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha Martins picture

Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.

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Fact-checked by Smriti Chaudhary

Bachelor of Technology specializing in Information Technology

Smriti Chaudhary picture

Smriti ChaudharyBachelor of Technology specializing in Information Technology

Smriti, a student data scientist, and coder, is pursuing her Bachelor of Technology at K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering. She has achieved top rankings in the International English Olympiad, National Spelling Bee, and PSAT/SAT English Section. She is experienced in content creation and editing for various academic institutions.

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