The Prothonotary Warbler is the only eastern warbler that nests in natural tree cavities and nest boxes, earning it the nickname 'golden swamp warbler.' Its blazing golden-yellow head and breast make it one of the most brilliant songbirds of bottomland swamps. It gained notoriety beyond birding when its nesting behavior helped crack the Alger Hiss spy case in 1948.
Best time to see a Prothonotary Warbler
The best time to see a Prothonotary Warbler is April–May, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 13,604 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Prothonotary Warbler? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Prothonotary Warbler sightings near you
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