Today's featured feathered friend is the Hooded Warbler. This medium-sized warbler can be seen in the summer across most of the eastern United States. They spend the winter months in Central America and the Caribbean, but every spring and fall they migrate along the Gulf coast. On Monday March 17th, a severe spring storm resulted in a "fallout" grounding migrating birds by the thousands. Forced to find food, rest and shelter, they were scattered all along the Florida Gulf Coast. On the 18th, we spent the day at Fort De Soto County Park in Saint Petersburg, finding many Hooded Warblers (all males) and got some great photos. This marks the second spring in a row that a "fallout" has produced hundreds of Hooded Warblers. Spring migration has only just begun. We check the weather forecasts daily and we are ready for that quick birding trip after a spring storm.
Hooded Warblers are just over five inches long, weigh less than half an ounce and flutter about with a seven-inch wingspan. The male sports a black hood and throat, a yellow face and forehead, a large black eye, an olive-green back, wings and tail, with bright yellow underparts. The female is similar to the male but the hood patterns can vary. Some females have hoods that are dark and extensive like males, but most females just have a dark border around the face. Juveniles are similar to adults but have less black.
Learn more about this species by clicking the links below. Enjoy some of our favorite photos of the Hooded Warbler.....tweet.....tweet!!
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hooded_warbler/id |
| Male Hooded Warbler (Taken 3/18/14, Ft. De Soto County Park, St Petersburg FL) |
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| Female Hooded Warbler (Taken 4/6/13, Ft. De Soto County Park, St Petersburg FL) |
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| Male Hooded Warbler (Taken 3/18/14, Ft. De Soto County Park, St Petersburg FL) |
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| Female Hooded Warbler (Taken 4/6/13, Ft. De Soto County Park, St Petersburg FL) |
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| Male Hooded Warbler A bouquet of flowers for the star of the show. (Taken 3/18/14, Ft. De Soto County Park, St Petersburg FL) |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Warbler
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