Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Hooded Warbler
Scientific name:	Setophaga citrina
Date:	10/06/2018 & 10/07/2018
Time:	2:00 PM
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Confluence Park (La Verkin) near La Verkin Creek (along Confluence Trail near trailhead at the end of 900 North)
County:	Washington County
Latilong:	37.208490, -113.283561
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	Varied (15 to 40 feet)
Optical equipment:	Nikon 200-500mm lens, Leupold 10X50 binoculars
Weather:	Overcast, possibly light rain
Light Conditions:	Full shade
Description: Size of bird:	Warbler-size (appeared average for warbler)
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Warbler shape (see photos)
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Yellow-green above, bright yelllow below, black "hood" surrounds a yellow face
(Description:) Bill Type:	Thin, straight
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	An extensively yellow warbler (dark greenish-yellow above and bright yellow below). No wing bars. A black hood begins at the top of its crown and connects to a black throat below, enclosing a bright yellow face, including forehead. Dusky lores, and a thin, dark bill. When observed from below, it showed extensive white under-tail, which contrasted from its otherwise entirely bright yellow underside. The white tail feathers were also obvious when it fanned these feathers out on at least two occasions. Attached photos show all features described.
Song or call & method of delivery:	I remember it was quite vocal and let out some high-pitched call notes when it was first observed. Kevin Wheeler described this as "loud chips" when he re-found the bird. Maurice DeMille described the call on his ebird checklist as a distinctive "chink" call.
Behavior:	Very active. It mainly stayed low in vegetation and sometimes stayed on the ground (especially when observed on 10/7). I did see it fly up to the mid-level of a large cottonwood tree once when observed on 10/6. I noted that it fanned out its tail feathers a couple of times when observed on 10/6. Both days it was observed, it was quite secretive and wouldn't stay in the open for more than a few seconds at a time.
Habitat:	Thick riparian habitat near La Verkin Creek drainage.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Nothing else is very similar to a male hooded warbler. The black hood that extends from the crown that connects to a black throat to enclose a bright yellow face is distinctive.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	No previous experience with hooded warbler. As noted earlier, it's a stretch to say that anything else is very similar.
References consulted:	Sibley Western Guide to Birds, National Geographic Field Guide, various online resources
Description from:	From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mike Schijf
Observer's address:	354 Vermillion Ave
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	I was alone when I found the bird on 10/06. However, it has since been re-found by Maurice DeMille, Lucy Ormond, John Schijf, Steve & Cindy Sommerfeld, Kevin Wheeler, Jason Pietrzak, Kendall Watkins, Rick Fridell, Nelson Kunz, Matthew Pendleton, Jon Aird, Steve Clark, Terry Reid, and perhaps others.
Date prepared:	10/9/2018
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	On 10/06/2018: After about 2 hours of birding in off-and-on rain, I was getting ready to call it a day. As I neared the parking area at Confluence Park I stopped to photograph an Empid. I snapped several photos and looked down at my camera to review them. When I glanced back up, the hooded warbler appeared (seemingly out of nowhere). I immediately knew what it was, even with my naked eye. I reached for my camera and botched a great photo opportunity as the bird landed close and in clear view but didn't stay there for long. It flew and flitted around actively near the base of a large cottonwood tree, at one point flying into the low branches of the tree. It then flew further away, but landed on an open branch where I finally got identifiable photos from its back side. I followed it as it flew again into another large cottonwood, before it flew back the direction it came from and out of view. I was unable to relocate the bird that day. On 10/07/2018: I took my dad (John Schijf) back to Confluence Park in hopes of re-finding the hooded warbler. Eventually, we found it near the original location, but slightly closer to the parking area and stepover/gate. It was again very active and secretive, and we only got good looks a couple of times. This time, it stayed in very low vegetation and on the ground along the bank of La Verkin Creek.