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
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Prothonotary Warbler? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Prothonotary Warbler is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love birds? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.