Description

The Prairie Warbler, a small bird, are readily identified by their whitish subocular crescent that is bordered by a stripe of black, olive or grey on the moustache and dark spots on the neck. This facial pattern may be difficult to distinguish in immatures. The upperparts are olive with chestnut spotting on the back, yellow underparts with streaks on the sides, white undertail coverts and dark legs.

The Prothonotary Warbler is a local summer resident that has a preference for dark and damp lowland woods and bottomland hardwood forests.

The song is distinctive, usually loud and consists of several, ranging from 4 to 20, discrete notes. The call note is very similar to that of the Palm Warbler and has a smacking quality to it as represented by "tsip" or "tchick."

Bright male Pine Warbler and the fall Magnolia Warbler

Like the Palm Warbler and waterthrushes, the Prairie Warbler is a tail bobber. The tail is moved quickly downward and then returned to its original position, especially when the bird is distressed. The Prairie Warbler forages for a variety of foodstuffs including insects, spiders and other soft-bodied arthropods, molluscs and occasionally fruit and other plant matter.
Agonistic behaviour of the species includes threat and appeasement displays during which territorial males typically sing high on perches well into the morning.

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