Prothonotary Warbler Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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New Jersey, May 10, 2018Recorded by Tom Johnson / Macaulay Library
Song
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Maryland, June 23, 1997Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song
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Maryland, June 16, 2017Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Dawn song
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Maryland, June 15, 2017Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Flight song
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Louisiana, August 12, 2019Recorded by Robert Dobbs / Macaulay Library
Chip calls
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New York, July 05, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Chip calls
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Illinois, May 29, 2020Recorded by Matt Wistrand / Macaulay Library
Tink calls
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New York, June 02, 2018Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Maryland, August 12, 1994Recorded by Michael O'Brien / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The male has a loud, far-carrying song of 4–14 high-pitched ringing notes, sometimes likened to shouting “tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet.” Each note is slightly upslurred and the series of notes increases in volume at the end. He frequently sings from elevated perches especially early in the morning, singing about 5–6 songs per minute. When close to the nest, his song is often softer; and when he’s with a female he sings a longer song that starts off fast and slows down at the end.

Calls

The male and female give a sharp tisk or tschip call, often during aggressive interactions with other birds or nest predators. The female also calls when she leaves and returns to the nest. If a predator threatens the nest they make a high-pitched trill to distract the predator. When pairs interact they give a softer and thinner tsip.