Prothonotary warblers (Protonotaria citrea) are some of the most beautiful birds in creation. When one appears in New York City during migration, the birders rush to see him or her. According to the Cornell Web site: “The brilliant Prothonotary Warbler bounces along branches like a golden flashlight in the dim understory of swampy woodlands. This golden ray of light is unique among warblers with its beady black eye and blue-gray wings. It is also one of two warblers that build their nests in holes in standing dead trees. Often called a "swamp warbler" in the southeast, it also occurs surprisingly far to the north along rivers. Its population is declining, due to loss of forested wetlands in the U.S. and mangroves on its wintering grounds.”
Prothonotary warbler, the Pool, Central Park, April 19, 2022
Prothonotary warbler, Prospect Park near the Ravine, April 19, 2021
The prothonotary warblers in this slide show were seen in Central Park and Green-Wood Cemetery in the spring of 2022.
