Editing Prothonotary warbler

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2021 |title=''Protonotaria citrea'' |volume=2021 |page=e.T22721765A137344170 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22721765A137344170.en |access-date=16 May 2025}}</ref>
| image = Protonotaria-citrea-002 edit.jpg
| image_caption = Female
| genus = Protonotaria
| parent_authority = [[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]], 1858
| species = citrea
| authority = ([[Pieter Boddaert|Boddaert]], 1783)
| range_map = Protonotaria citrea map.svg 
| range_map_caption = Range of ''P. citrea'' {{leftlegend|#FFFF00|Breeding range|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#0000FF|Wintering range|outline=gray}}
}}

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 [[Prothonotary|prothonotaries]]) in the [[Catholic Church|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. 

==Taxonomy==
The prothonotary warbler was described by the French polymath [[Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon]] in 1779 in his ''[[Histoire Naturelle|Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux]]'' from a specimen collected in [[Louisiana]]. Buffon coined the French name ''Le figuier protonotaire''.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Buffon | first=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | year=1779 | title=Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux | volume=9 | place=Paris | publisher=De L'Imprimerie Royale | page=465 | chapter=Le figuier protonotaire | language=fr | chapter-url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42302256 }}</ref> The bird was also illustrated in a hand-coloured plate engraved by [[François-Nicolas Martinet]] in the ''Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle,'' which was produced under the supervision of [[Edme-Louis Daubenton]] to accompany Buffon's text.<ref>{{ cite book | last1=Buffon | first1=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author1-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | last2=Martinet | first2=François-Nicolas | author2-link=François-Nicolas Martinet | last3=Daubenton | first3=Edme-Louis  | author3-link=Edme-Louis Daubenton | last4=Daubenton | first4=Louis-Jean-Marie | author4-link=Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton | year=1765–1783 | chapter=Figuier à ventre et tête jaunes de la Loisiane | title=Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle | volume=8 | place=Paris | publisher=De L'Imprimerie Royale | at=Plate 704 Fig. 2 | chapter-url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35218303 }}</ref>  Neither the plate caption nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalist [[Pieter Boddaert]] coined the [[binomial name]] ''Motacilla citrea'' in his catalogue of the ''Planches Enluminées''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Boddaert | first=Pieter | author-link=Pieter Boddaert | year=1783 | title=Table des planches enluminéez d'histoire naturelle de M. D'Aubenton : avec les denominations de M.M. de Buffon, Brisson, Edwards, Linnaeus et Latham, precedé d'une notice des principaux ouvrages zoologiques enluminés | place=Utrecht | page=38, Number 704 Fig. 2 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27822664 | language=fr }}</ref> The prothonotary warbler is now the only species placed in the [[genus]] ''Protonotaria'' that was introduced in 1858 by the American naturalist [[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Spencer Baird]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Curson |first1=Jon |last2=Quinn |first2=David |last3=Beadle |first3=David |title=New World Warblers |location=London |year=1994 |publisher=Christopher Helm |isbn=0-7136-3932-6 |pages=159–161}}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | last=Baird | first=Spencer F. | author-link=Spencer Fullerton Baird | year=1858 | title=Reports of explorations and surveys to ascertain the most practical and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean made under the direction of the secretary of war in 1853-1856 | volume=9 Birds | location=Washington | publisher=Printed by Beverly Tucker | pages=[https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11689163 xix], [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11689175 xxxi], [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11689435 235], [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11689439 239] }}</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2019 | title=New World warblers, mitrospingid tanagers | website=IOC World Bird List Version 9.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/warblers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=9 September 2019 }}</ref> The species is [[monotypic]], no [[subspecies]] are recognised.<ref name=ioc/>

The genus name is from [[Late Latin]] ''protonotarius'', meaning "[[prothonotary]]", a notary attached to the Byzantine court who wore golden-yellow robes. The specific ''citrea'' is from Latin ''citreus'' meaning the colour "[[Citrine (colour)|citrine]]".<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url=https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n109 109], 318 }}</ref> It was once known as the golden swamp warbler.<ref>{{cite book |title=Bird: The Definitive Visual guide |publisher=DK Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-0756655747}}</ref>

A [[molecular phylogenetic]] study of the family Parulidae published in 2010 found that the prothonotary warbler was a [[sister taxon|sister species]] to [[Swainson's warbler]] (''Limnothlypis swainsonii'').<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Lovette | first1=I.J. | last2=Pérez-Emán | first2=J.L. | last3=Sullivan | first3=J.P. | last4=Banks | first4=R.C. | last5=Fiorentino | first5=I. | last6=Córdoba-Córdoba | first6=S. | last7=Echeverry-Galvis | first7=M. | last8=Barker | first8=F.K. | last9=Burns | first9=K.J. | last10=Klicka | first10=J. | last11=Lanyon | first11=S.M. | last12=Bermingham | first12=E. | year=2010 | title=A comprehensive multilocus phylogeny for the wood-warblers and a revised classification of the Parulidae (Aves) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=57 | issue=2 | pages=753–770 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.018 | pmid=20696258 | bibcode=2010MolPE..57..753L | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45582717 }}</ref>

== Description ==
The prothonotary warbler is {{cvt|13|cm|in}} long, weighs a mean {{cvt|14.3|g|oz}},<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dunning, Jr. |first=John B. |title=CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses |date=2008 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4200-6444-5 |edition=2nd |location=Boca Raton, FL |pages=526}}</ref> and has a wingspan of 22&nbsp;cm (8.75&nbsp;in).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prothonotary Warbler {{!}} State of Tennessee, Wildlife Resources Agency|url=https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/birds/prothonotary-warbler.html|access-date=2020-09-30|website=www.tn.gov|language=en}}</ref> It has an olive-coloured back with blue-grey wings and tail, yellow underparts, a relatively long pointed bill, and black legs. The adult male has a bright orange-yellow head. Females and immature birds are duller and have a yellow head. In flight from below, the short, wide tail has a distinctive two-toned pattern, white at the base and dark at the tip.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion |url=https://archive.org/details/petedunnesessent00dunn |url-access=registration |year=2006 |publisher= Houghton Mifflin |first=Pete |last=Dunne|isbn=978-0-618-23648-0 }}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat==
The prothonotary warbler mostly breeds in [[hardwood]] [[swamp]]s in extreme southeastern [[Ontario]] and the eastern [[United States]]. However, it may nest near other bodies of water such as creeks, streams, ponds, and swimming pools.

The habitat of the warblers during migration is not well known. However, they are particularly prominent in [[Belize]] during spring migration.<ref name=":1" />

The warblers [[bird migration|winter]] in the [[West Indies]], [[Central America]] and northern [[South America]], primarily in Mangrove Swamps.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stiles |first1=Gary |last2= Skutch |first2=Alexander |title=A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica |isbn= 0-8014-9600-4 |year=1989 |publisher=Cornell University Press}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

It is a rare vagrant to parts of the western United States,<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2017 |title=Prothonotary Warbler |url=http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/prothonotary_warbler |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=BirdWeb |language=en}}</ref> most notably California.

== Behavior and ecology ==

The prothonotary warbler is the only eastern warbler that nests in natural or artificial cavities, sometimes using old [[downy woodpecker]] holes. The male often builds several incomplete, unused [[bird nest|nest]]s in his territory; the female builds the real nest and lays 3–7&nbsp;eggs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Atwell |first=Leigh |title=Protonotaria citrea (prothonotary warbler) |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Protonotaria_citrea/ |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=Animal Diversity Web |language=en}}</ref>

The preferred [[foraging]] habitat is dense, woody streams, where the prothonotary warbler forages actively in low foliage, mainly for [[insect]]s and [[snail]]s.<ref name=":0" />

The song of this bird is a simple, loud, ringing ''sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet''. The call is a loud, dry chip, like that of a [[hooded warbler]]. Its flight call is a loud {{not a typo|''seeep''}}.<ref>{{cite book |title=National Geographic Complete Birds of North America |first=Jonathan |last=Alderfer |year=2006 |publisher=National Geographic Society}}</ref>

== Status ==

Prothonotary warblers are declining in numbers due to loss of habitat. They also experience [[brood parasite|parasitism]] by the [[brown-headed cowbird]] (''Molothrus ater''), and are outcompeted for nest sites by the [[Northern house wren|house wren]] (''Troglodytes aedon'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Flaspohler |first=David J. |date=1996 |title=Nesting success of the prothonotary warbler in the upper Mississippi River bottomlands |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4163713 |journal=The Wilson Bulletin |volume=108 |issue=3 |pages=457–466|jstor=4163713 }}</ref> The warblers are listed as [[endangered]] in [[Canada]], with approximately 30 individuals estimated to breed in Ontario as of 2008.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_prothonotary_warbler_0311_e.pdf |title=Recovery Strategy for the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) in Canada. |date=2011 |publisher=Environment Canada |isbn=978-1-100-17433-4 |location=Ottawa, Canada |pages=1}}</ref> The species persists in protected environments such as [[South Carolina]]'s [[Francis Beidler Forest]], which is currently home to more than 2,000 pairs, the densest known population.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Jim |date=October 2, 2018 |title=158. Francis Beidler Forest, Harleyville, South Carolina |url=http://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/hotspots/158-francis-beidler-forest-harleyville-south-carolina/ |website=BirdWatching}}</ref>

== In culture ==

=== Art and literature ===
[[John James Audubon]]'s painting of a prothonotary warbler is the third plate in ''[[The Birds of America]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Audubon's Birds of America at the University of Pittsburgh |url=http://audubon.library.pitt.edu/plates.html |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=audubon.library.pitt.edu}}</ref>

The warbler has also been mentioned several times in literature. First, the warbler is mentioned in ''[[A Sand County Almanac]]'' by [[Aldo Leopold]] as the "[J]ewel of my disease-ridden [[woodlot]]", "as proof that dead trees are transmuted into living animals, and vice versa. When you doubt the wisdom of this arrangement, take a look at the prothonotary."<ref>{{cite book |author=Aldo Leopold |title=A Sand County Almanac |publisher=The Random House Publishing Group |year=1996 |page=82}}</ref> Second, Kurt Vonnegut described the warbler as "the only birds that are housebroken in captivity" in his novel, ''[[Jailbird (novel)|Jailbird]].''{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== The Hiss-Chambers Hearing ===
The prothonotary warbler became known to a wider audience in the 1940s as the bird that established a connection between [[Whittaker Chambers]] and [[Alger Hiss]] in front of the [[House Un-American Activities Committee]].

On August 3, 1948, in a hearing before the committee, Chambers accused Hiss of being a communist spy who sought to infiltrate the U.S. government. Two days later, Hiss testified before the committee and claimed, among other things, that Chambers' allegations were false and that he did not know Chambers.

However, future U.S. president, [[Richard Nixon]], who was then a freshman congressman on the committee, became convinced that Hiss had committed [[perjury]] at the hearing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Chambers accuses Hiss of being a communist spy |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chambers-accuses-hiss-of-being-a-communist-spy |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref> To verify this suspicion, the committee had Chambers appear before it again on August 7, 1948, to testify about his relationship with Hiss. At that hearing, Chambers testified that Hiss enjoyed [[Birdwatching|bird-watching]], and once bragged to Chambers about seeing a prothonotary warbler along the [[Potomac River]]. When Hiss appeared before the committee again, he haphazardly confirmed spotting a prothonotary warbler on the Potomac, causing many members of the committee to become convinced of the pair's acquaintance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chambers |first=Whittaker |title=Witness |publisher=Random House |year=1952 |isbn=0-89526-571-0 |pages=362, 564, 572, 573, 580}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Doug |url=http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hiss/hissaccount.html |title=The Trials of Alger Hiss: A Commentary |work=Famous Trials |publisher=[[University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law]] |year=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830194752/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hiss/hissaccount.html |archive-date=2006-08-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author-link=John J. Miller (journalist) |last=Miller |first=John J. |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/220778/unsung-hero-cold-war/john-j-miller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010125816/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/220778/unsung-hero-cold-war/john-j-miller |archive-date=10 October 2012 |title=The Unsung Hero of the Cold War |journal=[[National Review]] |date=30 April 2007}}</ref> Ultimately, the Hiss-Chambers hearing led, in part, to Nixon's political rise.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Petit |first=Lisa J. |date=2020 |title=Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), version 1.0 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/prowar/cur/introduction |journal=Birds of the World |language=en |doi=10.2173/bow.prowar.01|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
D8G7D2390.jpg|In a cavity nest
3 Prothonotary Warbler restored.jpg|Painting by [[John James Audubon]]
Our native birds of song and beauty, being a complete history of all the songbirds, flycatchers, hummingbirds, swifts, goatsuckers, woodpeckers, kingfishers, trogons, cuckoos, and parrots, of North (14750547232).jpg|Painting by [[Robert Ridgway]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Protonotaria citrea}}
{{Wikispecies|Protonotaria citrea}}
* {{InternetBirdCollection|prothonotary-warbler-protonotaria-citrea|Prothonotary warbler}}
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Prothonotary_Warbler.html Prothonotary warbler Species Account] – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6370id.html Prothonotary warbler - ''Protonotaria citrea''] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140618132834/http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_birds/?id=283 Prothonotary Warbler "The Swamp Songster" by Lisa Petit (January 1997)] – Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
* [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/index.php/download_file/view/1332/724/ Prothonotary warbler recording] at Florida Museum of Natural History
* {{VIREO|Prothonotary+warbler}}
* {{NeotropicalBirds|prowar|Prothonotary warbler}}

{{Passeroidea|E.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q206535}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Parulidae|prothonotary warbler]]
[[Category:Native birds of the Eastern United States]]
[[Category:Birds of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1783|prothonotary warbler]]
[[Category:New World warblers]]