| The Prothonotary Warbler, so named for the title of a court clerk who traditionally wore a bright orange-yellow robe, is brilliantly costumed. The head and underparts are golden-orange (yellow in females), olive back, and blue-gray wings and tail flecked with white and black legs and thin pointed dark bill. The unstreaked yellow breast and underparts and lack of wing bars helps to separate it from other species.
In the summer, Prothonotary Warblers live in mature wooded swamps or in dead trees along sluggish streams throughout much of eastern North America. Cypress trees and trees heavy with Spanish moss are the ideal habitat. The nest is usually in the deserted hole of a small woodpecker. Nearly always the stump or dead tree will be in or leaning over water. The male arrives first and establishs the nesting territory by singing, chasing and fighting. He then builds a "dummy nest" by placing small amounts of moss into the nest cavity. He displays deeply to the female during courtship by fluffing plumage and spreading his tail and wings. The female will then fill the nest cavity almost to the entrance hole with moss, dry leaves, twigs and bark. She then will line it with rootlets and bark strips. They will use well placed nesting boxes when available.
While fewer and fewer of these birds have been returning in recent years and its brilliant plumage contributes to its relatively frequent detection. The problem is complex. In the north, forest depletion makes breeding habitat hard to find and widespread fragmentation leaves nests vulnerable to predation and cowbird parasitism. In addition, the destruction of mangrove and riparian forests in central and South America where the Prothonotary winters, has been severe.
In addition, they must compete with the European Starlings and House Wrens for the prime nesting spots. The Brown-Headed Cowbird's nest parasitism. is especially pronounced in areas of extensive forest fragmentation. Cowbirds destroy warbler eggs and replace them with their own. The warblers rear cowbird nestlings as their own. Cowbirds grow faster and demand more food,out-competing the baby warblers, which may not survive.
Like all warblers, the Prothonotary is very active. Their diet consists of adult insects and larvae, including aquatic insects, ants, caterpillars, mayflies, beetles, and other insects. They also feed on snails and other small mollusks, spiders, and some seeds. They glean insects among foliage, usually in low thickets above water. Prothonotary Warblers hop on floating driftwood and mossy logs looking into crevices or foraging like a nuthatch in trunks of trees.In different localities, it is called golden warbler, golden swamp warbler, and willow warbler.
Length 5 1/2 inches
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