Prothonotary Warbler Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesProthonotary Warbler
Adult male
Large, heavy-bodied warbler with a big head and bill. Bright yellow overall with an olive back and grayish wings. Undertail coverts are white.
© Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, April 22, 2020Adult female
Large warbler with a thicker black bill and a big head. Females are slightly paler than males with a crown and nape washed with green.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, July 08, 2020Adult male
Forages in the understory, slowly hopping along branches, twigs, and on the ground.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 27, 2020Adult male
Large, big-headed warbler with a thicker bill than most warblers. Golden yellow overall with an olive back and gray wings.
© Peter Brannon / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, September 14, 2016Adult male
Nests in holes in trees or nest boxes in wooded swamps and forested wetlands.
© Kim Harrell / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, April 21, 2016Adult male
Heavy-bodied warbler that is yellow overall with a beady black eye.
© Michael O'Brien / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 13, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Warbler
Adult female
Smaller than a Prothonotary Warbler with a black eyeline and wingbars.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 19, 2016Similar SpeciesBlue-winged Warbler
Adult male
Smaller than a Prothonotary Warbler with a black eyeline and wingbars.
© Joseph Pescatore / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 01, 2015Similar SpeciesYellow Warbler
Adult female (Northern)
Smaller than a Prothonotary Warbler with yellowish (not blue-gray) wings.
© Terry Boswell / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, June 04, 2017Similar SpeciesYellow Warbler
Adult male (Northern)
Smaller than a Prothonotary Warbler with chestnut streaks on the breast.
© Keenan Yakola / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 10, 2015Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
New World Warblers(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Parulidae)
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