Mike Powell

Each spring (and fall) migrating warblers move through our area. This period is particularly frustrating for me, because I can often hear the warblers singing and calling, but I only rarely catch a glimpse of one.

Last week, though, I heard a warbler and was able to track it as it moved feverishly in and out of the foliage at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I was definitely helped by the bright yellow plumage of the bird, that turned out to be a Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea). Prothonotary Warblers are almost completely covered in yellow feathers and therefore can’t completely hide themselves. In case you are curious, the bird’s names comes from its plumage that resembles the yellow robes once worn by papal clerks in the Roman Catholic Church, known as prothonotaries.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.