Prothonotary Warbler
Protonotaria citrea
Content and photos by James Giroux
Male
Migration is now behind us, and as a Central Texan you might think that all but a few of the Warblers have left Texas. But, there might be more Warblers that nest in Texas than you think – east Texas in particular. Other than our famous Golden-cheeked, those warblers are: Black-and White, Yellow-throated, Pine, Kentucky, Hooded, Swainson’s, Prairie and our Bird of the Week, the Prothonotary Warbler – or the warbler with the strange name. That name comes from the papal clerks of the Catholic church, called prothonotaries, who wear bright yellow robes. The bird is also often called the “swamp warbler” in the southeast U.S. due to its fondness for swampy areas.
Male and Female
Male Prothonotaries are brighter than the females, and the brighter the better. One study found that brightness was correlated with the best nesting areas.
Unlike most warblers that nest on the ground or in tree branches, the Prothonotary nests in wood cavities just like the woodpeckers. The only other warbler species that does this is Lucy’s.
The Prothonotary is an eastern warbler that winters in South America, Mexico, and even in Louisiana and Texas. A few show up in the Austin area during our spring migration, but if you want to see one in Texas in its nesting habitat, east Texas is the place to go. If you haven’t been to the Big Thicket preserves, that’s a good place to start. Just be sure to pack your mosquito repellant.
Sources:
The Sibley Guide to Birds
