Prothonotary Warbler

Lemon Warbler ( Protonotaria citrea )

The lemon Warbler ( Protonotaria citrea ) is a striking, bright yellow -orange bird in the family of warblers ( Parulidae ) and the only species in the genus Protonotaria.

Features

The plumage is olive-green on the upper side with blue-gray wings and tail feathers. There are white spots on the outer feathers. The underside is yellow. In the male the head is yellow-orange; yellow in the females and young birds. Overall, the plumage is duller in females and in young birds. You have in relation to body a black long pointed beak, black to dark gray legs and black eyes. Their body length is about 14 centimeters.

Reproduction

Lemon Warbler nest ( luciae Vermivora ) next to the Rotbürzel Warbler is the only species of warblers in tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes about. In addition to tree holes also nest boxes are related. The breeding season begins in mid of April and can extend to July. The males come before the females in the breeding areas. It plumps several nesting sites of in his district with moss, which examined the female. When the female has chosen a nest and thus for the owner, it builds the nest box further. The nest consists of four to six eggs, which are hatched in a period of 12 to 14 days. Both parents to participate in the rearing of young birds.

Nutrition

Lemon warblers feed on insects, which they ferret out the rotten wood or in dense vegetation, snails and crustaceans. In winter, they expand their diet to nectar and fruit.

Habitat and threats

The habitats of lemon warblers are located in wooded swamps, flooded predominantly hardwood forests and cypress swamps, and in areas along major lakes or rivers, among others, in the south of Minnesota and Ontario, and Central Texas, and Florida. They prefer to spend the winter as a country distance hikers, among others in the south of Mexico to Central America and the north of South America and often inhabit mangrove forests or areas along the Atlantic coast. Due to habitat destruction as the draining of wet areas or destruction of mangrove forests, the stocks of lemon warblers are endangered. A small role in the hazard plays the Brown -headed Cowbird ( Molothrus ater), who occasionally puts in the nests of lemon Warbler brood parasites as his balls.