Prothonotary Warbler

About the Prothonotary Warbler

The prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. It is named for its plumage, which resembles the yellow robes once worn by papal clerks (named prothonotaries) in the Roman Catholic Church. The prothonotary warbler is the only member of the genus Protonotaria and the only eastern warbler that nests in natural or artificial cavities. These warblers often move with quick, jerky, movements and will even crawl upside down on sticks or trees. During the spring they are often seen in wetlands gathering nesting material, or food, for their mate.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Protonotaria citrea

Family

New World Warblers

Order

Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the new world warblers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• Altamira Yellowthroat Geothlypis flavovelata
• American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
• Bachman's Warbler Vermivora bachmanii
• Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
• Belding's Yellowthroat Geothlypis beldingi
• Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
• Black-polled Yellowthroat Geothlypis speciosa
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
• Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens
• Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
• Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
• Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata