Prothonotary warbler Protonotaria citrea

Identification Tips:

• Length: 4.75 inches
• Small, active, insect-eating bird
• Thin pointed bill
• Often inhabits swampy areas
• Golden-orange head in males, yellow in females and immatures
• Olive back
• Unstreaked yellow breast and underparts
• White undertail coverts
• Blue-gray wings and tail
• White spots in tail
• Black legs

Similar species:

The unstreaked underparts, plain yellow (or orange) head and breast, and lack of wing bars separate this species from most other warblers. The female Yellow Warbler has yellowish, not blue-gray wings and yellow undertail coverts. Blue-winged Warbler has black eyeline and wing bars.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.