Article in: Bird Conservation

Bird Conservation – Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea)are one of the few songbirds to nest in cavities and inhabit much of the southeast and Great Lake states. They nest in swampy forests and winter along the coast of Central and South America. Their mangrove wintering sites are rapidly decreasing.

In our area, Prothonotary Warblers are uncommon but found yearly along riparian areas. We have been lucky to see them often this year, perhaps due to high amounts of rainfall.

Conservation List

Increase acreage of bottomland and upland forest habitats
Slow or halt deforestation and degradation of wintering mangrove habitat (restore habitat where possible)
Develop baseline inventory of Prothonotary Warbler breeding and wintering populations

Conservation Action

Partners in Flight along with other conservation organizations such as Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program, The National Resources Conservation Service Wetland Reserve Program, Ducks Unlimited, and the Nature Conservancy have taken up efforts to increase acreage of proper habitat. Other organizations on the wintering grounds have been limited and stricter laws are needed (and enforced).

In our area we have been tracking Prothonotary Warbler sightings to work on establishing nesting locations. We have hopes of creating a nest box program similar to what has been done for Eastern Bluebirds. However, according to the Birder’s Conservation Handbook, nest boxes have “increased local densities of breeding birds, though there is concern that birds breeding in nest boxes may have increased rates of nest predation”.

As of 2004, Prothonotary Warbler population was estimated at 1.8 million (39% decline since 1966). Full details on this species and 99 other North American birds at risk can be found in Jeffrey V. Wells’ Birder’s Conservation Handbook.

← Previous Next →

5 Comments or Trackbacks ↓ Jump to add comment ↓

Beth Graham says:

There are nesting Prothonotaries at a state park near me (Parvin State Park in Centerton, NJ). In my few years of birding, this is the only location I’ve seen them…and in very low numbers. I’ve seen only about 3 in the park this spring so far.

Posted on: June 21, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Melissa Gold says:

I’ve never seen one of those… yet!
Your advice for conservation is always great

Posted on: June 22, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
Lana says:

These are such lovely birds. When I went on a swamp tour this past May we saw dozens of them.

Posted on: June 25, 2008 @ 11:19 am
Dee says:

I had some on our porch just a few hours ago, and I would like to know what they eat. Any suggestions? They are so cute!

Posted on: March 15, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
The Birdfreak Team says:

Prothonotary Warblers are usually not “feeder birds” (as most warblers are not). But they eat insects, spiders, etc. so if they were finding grubs, that would attract them.

Posted on: March 16, 2009 @ 8:21 pm