Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2019

Mary Pernal, ; Joel Tilley, ; Marv Elliott, ; Kathleen Guinness, ; Chuck and Gail Helfer,

cloudy; no wind; flat light, but bird was seen against the ground so that was not an issue

Vortex Viper 8x42 (Sue Elliott; Marv Elliott)

have seen in Texas and Tennessee on three or for occasions as recently as April 2019

wet area with many shrubs and downed small branches, surrounded by mixed woodland; during the period we heard a Red-shouldered Hawk two or three times

bird remained on the ground most of the time, hopping up on low branches and stumps, probably no more than 1/2" off the ground, turning over leaves and feeding

None, although I heard a sharp 'chink' call note twice as we approached the area, but about three or four minutes before we saw and identified the bird. No song heard. We saw it move through the undergrowth for about 20 feet before we lost it.

We were scanning the area during a birding trip with observers from Rutland County Audubon and Slate Valley Trails. The whole trip was through three miles of mixed hardwoods/conifers, a small river, small clearings, two vernal pools, and the wetland described above. As we approached the wetland, we heard a Red-shouldered Hawk, and, while looking for that Mary Pernal, a relatively new birder, said "what's this little yellow bird over here?" We assumed it would be a Yellow Warbler or maybe a Wilson's Warbler, but once I saw the black wrapped around a yellow face with a dark eye, I realized we were looking at Hooded Warbler. We all had poor to good looks at the bird depending on our position. I had a very clear view and was able to snap the attached photo.

warbler sized and shaped

black crown with black wrapping down around a bright yellow face and under the chin and throat with a dark eye

did not have much of a look as it moved through the leaves, but my impression was pinkish legs

olive

did not see as wings were folded to its sides

no wing bars or other markings, same olive color as back, did not see it fly

breast and under body to tail were bright yellow

unmarked in folded position, no apparent fork, but not seen clearly

Wilson's Warbler as black covered head and wrapped around face then down chin and neck, but there really was no comparison.

Adult. I originally believed it to be a male, but upon reading up on sex differences, it seems that females may have varying amounts of black, with some females having almost as much. My original impression through my binoculars was that it was a bit more black than what appears in the picture. It does not appear to have as much black as that seen on the Hooded Warbler seen in Danby, reported by Nancy Brown on May 8.