Prothonotary Warbler
Protonotaria citrea
Prothonotary Warblers spend winters in southern Central America, northern South America, and the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula. When spring arrives, they migrate into most of the eastern USA. These birds seek swampland hardwood forest as nesting sites and are only one of two warbler species in North America to use cavities for nesting. (The other is the Lucy’s Warbler.)
Suitable habitat for these birds in the eastern USA states is under attack by human development and is one cause for a decline in the population of Prothonotary Warblers.
Today’s science views this species as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies recognized). Further, the Prothonotary Warbler is the only member of the genus Protonotaria.
I met both males and females of this species during my 2021 spring migration vigil on South Padre Island. The brilliance of their yellow coloring makes a lasting impression. When I visited Texas in the fall of 2022, I was happy to meet them again as they headed south for the winter. The resemblance to the garments of the papal clerks in the Catholic church has earned them the name Prothonotary.
21 Photos
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This female Prothonotary Warbler was the first member of its species I met. April on South Padre Island provides me with close encounters like no other place I’ve ever visited. By most experienced birders here, it will only get better in the coming weeks. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:04 11:05 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X0750-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This female Prothonotary Warbler was the first member of its species I met. April on South Padre Island provides me with close encounters like no other place I’ve ever visited. By most experienced birders here, it will only get better in the coming weeks. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:04 11:03 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X0702-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This female Prothonotary Warbler was the first member of its species I met. April on South Padre Island provides me with close encounters like no other place I’ve ever visited. By most experienced birders here, it will only get better in the coming weeks. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:04 11:03 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X0699-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This female Prothonotary Warbler was the first member of its species I met. April on South Padre Island provides me with close encounters like no other place I’ve ever visited. By most experienced birders here, it will only get better in the coming weeks. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:04 11:03 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X0691-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: I met the female Prothonotary Warbler for the first time two days earlier. The male birds, so far, have eluded me. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 11:40 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X1940-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: I met the female Prothonotary Warbler for the first time two days earlier. The male birds, so far, have eluded me. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 9:35 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X1333-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: I met the female Prothonotary Warbler for the first time two days earlier. The male birds, so far, have eluded me. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 9:36 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X1421-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: I met the female Prothonotary Warbler for the first time two days earlier. The male birds, so far, have eluded me. Last year the global pandemic prevented me from experiencing the full effects of spring migration in south Texas. This year the gates are open and I’m venturing to South Padre Island about every second day. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:06 11:40 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X1913-SPI_ConvCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:45 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3703-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:45 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3693-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:45 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3679-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:43 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3657-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:38 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3624-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:36 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3599-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:35 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3569-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: This male warbler was having a field day with the tiny insects hiding in the grass stalks. With a momentary lull in warbler migration on South Padre Island, I paid my admission to the Birds and Nature Center to attempt catching subjects that don’t make many appearances at the Convention Centre. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:08 16:16 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_D5X3252-SPI_BirdNatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: Most of us visiting the Valley Land Fund’s Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary are looking for migrating birds. I was especially pleased to spend some time with this male Prothonotary Warbler heading south. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:02 9:17 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_8506990-SPI.Sheepshead |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: Most of us visiting the Valley Land Fund’s Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary are looking for migrating birds. I was especially pleased to spend some time with this male Prothonotary Warbler heading south. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:02 9:19 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_8507058-SPI.Sheepshead |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: Most of us visiting the Valley Land Fund’s Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary are looking for migrating birds. I was especially pleased to spend some time with this male Prothonotary Warbler heading south. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:02 9:20 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_8507069-SPI.Sheepshead |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: Most of us visiting the Valley Land Fund’s Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary are looking for migrating birds. I was especially pleased to spend some time with this male Prothonotary Warbler heading south. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:02 10:09 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_8507163-SPI.Sheepshead |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Prothonotary Warbler(Protonotaria citrea) |
|
Description: Most of us visiting the Valley Land Fund’s Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary are looking for migrating birds. I was especially pleased to spend some time with this male Prothonotary Warbler heading south. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:02 10:10 |
|
Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: ProthonotaryWarbler_8507208-SPI.Sheepshead |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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