I was ecstatic to spot this bright yellow Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It can be a little frustrating at time of the year when warblers are migrating through our area, because there are leaves on the trees that conceal the little birds—I often end up hearing more warblers than seeing them.
The warbler was perched on this clump of vegetation at the end of a branch and was reaching down into the cluster of leaves. At first I thought that the item in the warbler’s bill was an insect, but now I wonder if it might be a seed. Although Prothonotary Warblers like to eat all kinds of insects, they will also eat fruits and seeds.
I am by nature a curious person and don’t recall encountering the word “prothonotary” in any other context. What is a prothonotary? According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “The Prothonotary Warbler got its name from the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks, known as prothonotaries, in the Roman Catholic church.” A prothonotary is also the chief clerk in certain courts of law, including in the state of Pennsylvania.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Very nice capture of a really frustrating little one.
Thanks, Ted. This bird was mostly in the shadows, so I had to lift them quite a bit, but it did not degrade the image much. 🙂
Beautiful capture, Mike!
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Thanks, Mitzy.
This is a delightful photo and a strong composition. You have introduced me not only to a new bird but also the word “prothonotary”.
Thanks, Laura, for your very kind words. I love sharing both my photos and the quirky factoids that I encounter related to my subjects. 🙂
I’ve always wondered what prothonotary meant, too, but never at a time when it was convenient to look it up. Thanks for adding that explanation into your text! Mystery solved.
Beautiful little birds.
Nice job capturing this evasive and tiny guy 🙂