Hooded Warbler
(Setophaga citrina)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Dan Busby
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Hooded Warbler breeds in thickly understoried mature hardwood forests in southern Ontario. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario indicates a large increase in occurrence in Ontario between 1981/85 and 2001/05. In 2012, the species was re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and down-listed from Threatened to Not At Risk based on substantial range and population increases (COSEWIC 2012c). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
COSEWIC (Canada)Not at Risk2012 
SARA (Canada)Threatened2003 
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Partners in Flight (North America)Stewardship List2012 
Wild Species (Canada)At Risk2010 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaLarge IncreaseLow
 

Population estimate

Canada< 5,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Long-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaVery Low

Conservation and management

Though still uncommon, the Hooded Warbler is increasing in its Canadian range in southern Ontario. The reasons for the increase are not clear, but may be related to the regrowth of forest that is occurring in much of eastern North America or to changing climatic conditions (COSEWIC 2012c). Because the Hooded Warbler prefers nesting in small, densely vegetated clearings located within large stands of close-canopied forest, conservation of extensive tracts of mature, sustainably managed hardwood forest is critical for the continued occurrence of the species, as well as many others, in Canada (COSEWIC 2012c, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 2011). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view the Recovery Strategy, see the SARA Registry.

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence PlainLower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain, sub-region and priority type: Ontario Region
 

References