A blazing golden warbler of southern swamps — one of only two North American warblers to nest in tree cavities. Their bright yellow heads contrast against the dark cypress-tupelo swamp like flames.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The prothonotary warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. It is named for its plumage, which resembles the yellow robes once worn by papal clerks in the Roman Catholic Church.
Source: Wikipedia — Prothonotary warbler Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Brilliant golden-yellow body and head; olive-green wings and back; black bill.
Similar species. Yellow Warbler (red streaks on breast). Wilson's Warbler (black cap).
Voice. Loud "sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet" song.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects (caterpillars, spiders), aquatic invertebrates near water.
Behavior. One of only two cavity-nesting warblers in North America (with Lucy's Warbler). Builds nest in tree cavities in bottomland swamps.
§ Range
Eastern US in summer; winters in northern South America
§ Habitat
Flooded bottomland forests, swamps, wooded riverbanks
§ Threats
Bottomland hardwood drainage and logging, water-level management on river systems, tropical mangrove loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the prothonotary warbler is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Install swamp-edge nest boxes. Support bottomland forest protection. Donate to mangrove conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Prothonotary warbler
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Protonotaria citrea
- IUCN Red List · taxon 22721723
- iNaturalist · taxon 12915
- eBird · prowar
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Protonotaria citrea
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2018
