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Winter: Primarily from eastern Mexico through Central America, mostly on the Atlantic slope (Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras); usually not as far south as Panama, but makes rare appearances in northern South America. Breeding habitat Reaches highest densities in large tracts of mature, uninterrupted, deciduous forest with a dense shrub layer and scant ground cover. Breeds in both upland (usually oak-hickory) and bottomland forest types; in Canada, restricted to Carolinian forests of southern Ontario. Somewhat tolerant of disturbance, such as selective logging, that promotes growth of shrubs. Conservation status This warbler is of moderate conservation importance, because of its relatively small total breeding range and associations with mature deciduous forests. Breeding populations appear to be stable or even increasing in some areas at present; populations may be more vulnerable on their wintering grounds, where they generally inhabit rapidly disappearing lowland tropical forests. Relationships with forest fragmentation and silvicultural practices are poorly known and will be important for sustaining future populations. Description Male: The black hood, which is created by the solid black crown and throat connected along the sides of the neck, sets off the brilliant yellow face and forehead. Upperparts are olive, underparts yellow. White patches in tail seen during behavioral displays where tail is spread. Female: While some adult females may resemble the male’s hooded pattern, most show a yellow face and throat bordered below by black. While the front of the crown may be black, the rear crown is mostly olive, and blends into the back. Juvenile: Extensively brownish-olive above, dull buff below with light yellow mottling on the breast. Vocalizations Songs: Males have several song types, but the most common is ta-wit ta-wit ta-wit tee-yo. Other song types are sung irregularly, but share the sweet, clear quality of notes and often the wit-tee-yo ending. Calls: Both males and females give the loud and metallic-sounding peenk notes, primarily by the female during the breeding season, but during aggressive interactions rates become very frequent. Both give this note when defending winter territories. Foraging strategy Gleans from foliage while moving about a shrub or sapling, but will also hover-glean and sally for flying prey items. Diet Exclusively insects, including small spiders, caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, beetles, and flies. Behavior and displays
Wing droop: when landing near an
intruder, the wings are held slightly out, head is pulled in and feathers fluffed so that
bird has hunched appearance. Head switch: a variation of the wing droop in which the bird’s body
is turned away from the intruder and head is turned side-to-side. Upward: in high intensity situations the bird faces intruder, stands close
to it, and moves up and down from this position to the wing droop. Finally, "supplanting attacks," "direct attacks," and
"bill snapping" are also included in territorial disputes. Courtship Nesting Nest site: Nest
sites are primarily along streams and ravine edges in dense deciduous undergrowth. Nests
placed in shrubs, often within or along the edge of secondary forest. Frequently used
substrates include blackberry, beech, black cherry, and prickly gooseberry, but also
mapleleaf viburnum, white ash, black kohash, blue kohash, sugar maple, wild rose, yellow
birch, hawthron, and hemlock. In rare cases, the nest is built in the dead branches of a
fallen limb, or pile of debris. Height: Ranges
from 1-5 feet (0.3-1.5 meters) above the ground. Nest: An open
cup woven of soft inner bark, fine grasses, animal hair, and plant down. Outer portion of
nest consists of dead leaves and leaf skeletons, giving nest a camouflaged appearance. The
nest is supported with at least 2 vertical or oblique stems of the sapling or shrub; nest
materials are held together with spider webs. Built solely by female, although male is
sometimes nearby. Eggs: 3-4 creamy
white eggs, scattered with markings concentrated at large end. Incubation period:
12 days, exclusively by female. Male does not often approach nest and incubation feeding
has rarely been observed. Nestling period:
Young are altricial at hatching, naked except for sparse down, eyes closed, with little
coordinated movement and no ability to find food. Both males and females feed young from
hatch day. The young remain largely inactive until parent arrives with food, then stretch
neck upward and gape widely. Brooding of nestlings is performed entirely by the female. Fledgling period:
Parents often split the brood, females dispersing with their portion while males generally
stay on home territory. The young are independent 4-5 weeks after leaving the nest. Broods: Usually
single brooded. Cowbird Parasitism: Frequent
Brown-headed Cowbird host throughout range. Notes |
extends west to eastern Oklahoma
and Texas, southern Missouri, Iowa and southern Wisconsin, and north to southern Michigan,
southern Ontario, New York and Connecticut. 
