The Prothonotary Warbler is a glowing golden jewel of southern swamps, its head and breast a brilliant, almost luminous yellow-orange set against blue-gray wings and a white undertail. Named for the golden robes once worn by papal clerks (prothonotaries), it is unmistakable, and its loud, ringing "sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet" song rings out over the still water of wooded swamps. It forages low among the flooded trees and often over the water itself, gleaning insects and snails from bark, foliage, and floating debris.
Remarkably for a warbler, the Prothonotary nests in cavities — old woodpecker holes, natural hollows, and nest boxes in flooded timber — one of only two North American warblers to do so. It reaches the northern edge of its range in Michigan, breeding locally in wooded swamps, flooded bottomland forest, and river backwaters, mostly in the south of the state. Its dependence on standing water and cavity sites ties it to healthy swamp forest, and a singing golden male over dark swamp water is one of the most memorable sights in Michigan birding.
Gleans insects, caterpillars, spiders, and snails from bark, foliage, logs, and floating debris in flooded woodland, often foraging low over standing water. It takes a variety of invertebrates from the swamp environment and feeds its young heavily on such prey.
It is named for the brilliant golden-yellow robes historically worn by prothonotaries, clerks in the Roman Catholic Church. The bird's luminous golden head and breast reminded early observers of those robes.
Yes. The Prothonotary Warbler is one of only two North American warblers that nest in cavities, using old woodpecker holes, natural hollows, and nest boxes in flooded timber. This ties it to standing water with suitable cavity sites.
Locally in wooded swamps, flooded bottomland forest, and river backwaters, mostly in the southern part of the state at the northern edge of its range. It depends on healthy swamp forest with standing water.
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