Documentation of
Prothonotary Warbler
2007-144
Observer Information
Reporter:
Bill Maynard
1390 Farnham Pt. # 205,
COLORADO SPRINGS,
CO 80904-5215
E-mail:
bmaynard99@gmail.com
Other Observers:
None; Kaye Lafreniere found the bird on 05/26/07
Mark Peterson saw the bird early on 05/27/07 and called me.
Species, Date, Time and Location Information
Species:
Prothonotary Warbler
First Date/Time:
5/27/2007
Last Date/Time:
Duration (total time in view):
7 minutes over an hour period
County:
Washington
Specific Location:
Last Chance Rest Area pond
Number:
1
Age:
Unknown
Sex:
Male
Plumage:
Other/Unknown
Habitat
A small pond surrounded completely with dense riparian vegetation with well developed understory and an overstory of elms and other large trees
Viewing Conditions
Optics:
mostly used my spotting scope, 77mm Leica APO, with 32 x WW lens.
Distance:
I was as close as 25 feet, almost too close to photograph
Light:
At times quite good, in light shadows. I was looking south and the sun was rising.
Description of the Bird
This was a yellow orange, bluish-gray backed and winged warbler with a long dark bill. The head, chin, breast, and upper belly were orange yellow with the chest being the most orange. Because the head was completely orange yellow, it is a male. The brightness of the chest became duller, moving towards the undertail coverts which were noticeably white. The tail was relatively short. The wings had a bluish cast and contrasted beautifully with the yellow and orange tones of the head and ventral surface. The back had a greenish cast and was a different hue than the wings.
The feet were dark. The bird was slow-moving and appeard plump for a warbler. The bill stood out in its extended length.
Behaviors: I saw the bird three different times. The first two times it came down to the water to bathe, but only for about 4 or 5 seconds each time. It then moved up in front of me and preened its breast feathers. The third time I saw the bird foraging about 2 to 3 feet off of the ground in a clump of Ribes shrubs. At other times I could hear the bird singing, but it sounded like it sang from an elevated perch but I never saw it while it was singing.
Call: Yes,
I heard it sing three different times, but maybe only for 10 seconds each time. I compared it with the Prothonotary Warbler song on my iPod and it was the same song. Didn't hear any chip notes. Not as loud as advertized but noticeably high and sweet.
Plumage: adult alternate
Similar Species Discussion
Blue-winged Warbler has similar coloration but BWWA has a black eyeline, much smaller bill and lacks white undertail coverts. BWWA also sings a very buzzy song and never shows the orange tones that this PROW showed.
Yellow Warbler was also present and singing. It was much smaller and unlike the PROW, the YWAR snuck in to bathe. It was much smaller and had a smaller bill and red streaks on its yellow breast.
Resources Used
Looked in NGS 5th edition to confirm sex and for comparative species.
Previous Experience
I have seen four other PROWs in CO and many in the southern U.S. and in Shiawassee NWR in Michigan, but never as well as this one.
Materials Available
No files uploaded.
Date Documentation Submitted
5/27/2007 6:16:00 PM