Hooded Warbler Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Hooded Warblers are a species that have no business being in South Dakota! Their normal closest breeding range is extreme southeastern Iowa, a few hundred miles away. In May of 2020 however, birders at Newton Hills State Park heard an unfamiliar song, and soon found the source, a Hooded Warbler male singing his heart out from the top of a dead tree.  I didn't get a chance to head down until a few days later, and unfortunately struck out. I tried again another few days later...and struck out. In the meantime, birders still were periodically reporting it! On June 10th, there was again another report, so I headed down the next day to try one more time.

Success!  In the same dead tree where others had seen it, he was singing his heart out that evening. There have been continuing reports this summer, indicating the bird actually stuck around for the summer breeding season. It's not likely he found a mate! But it's not been for a lack of trying.

Hooded Warbler 1 June 11th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Hooded Warbler 2 June 11th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota	Hooded Warbler 3 June 11th, 2020 Newton Hills State Park, South Dakota

Click here for the species description page for the Hooded Warbler.

All photos copyrighted!  Click for information on commerical usage, or usage for other personal purposes.

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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl