Prothonotary Warbler

♂ Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea

Prothonotary Warblers are a bright yellow songbird found in southeastern wetland habitats during the summer months. Although both males and females are a golden brown, the males have blue-gray wings while the females are more dull. They winter in the northern portions of South America along the eastern coast into South Texas and breed from Central Texas up to the very southeastern portions of Canada. The common name is reference to the yellow hooded religious and legal clerks of the Roman Catholic church.

Prothonotary warblers prefer wetland habitats.

The main habitats of Prothonotary warblers include wooded swamps and bottomland forests, often with willows, elms, birch, and gum trees present. With exception to Lucy's warbler, the Prothonotary warbler is the only other warbler species that nests in cavities. Before attempting to attract a mate, males will line at least one cavity with moss. The female will build the rest of the nest cup with more moss, rootlets, bark, and grasses. Nesting cavities are often low, old woodpecker holes near or over standing water, but Prothonotary warblers will readily use bird boxes, gourds, and other man-made shelters.

While foraging for food, Prothonotary warblers may climb tree trunks.

When courting, males can be observed showing off possible nest cavities which the male will guard if the females chooses to mate. The male will also help bring food to the nestlings. Many Prothontary warblers will return to the same breeding ground the following year, but may change sites depending on previous flood events. The males are always first to arrive from migration where they can be heard establishing territory and finding cavities for a potential mate.

Leaves are used for nesting and to forage in.

During breeding season, the diet of the Prothonotary warbler is mainly insects including butterflies, moths, mayflies, spiders, and beetles, but they will occasionally feed on seeds and fruits during the non-breeding season. When they forage, Prothonotary warblers may be seen hopping in vegetation or else climbing on tree trunks. They have also been observed catching food in mid-air.

Prothonotary warblers are highly impacted by climate change.

The Prothonotary warbler is a vulnerable species due to its fragmented and specific habitats in both its breeding and wintering grounds. Many flood-control measures cause drying of seasonally flooded areas which reduce habitat availability. In addition, climate change is a big concern due to reduction of soil moisture and therefore reduced growing conditions for bottomland forests, prolong droughts, and because of an increased frequency of intense storm and flood events that may destroy low nests, an occurrence already recorded on the lower Wisconsin River. The Prothonotary warbler is considered endangered in Canada and is on the 2014 State of the Bird Watch List as one of the species most in danger of extinction without significant conservation action.