prothonotary warbler

noun

1. a wood warbler, Protonotaria citrea, of the eastern U.S., having an orange-yellow head and underparts, and bluish-gray wings and tail.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prothonotary warbler¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; so called because its coloration resembles the robes traditionally worn by prothonotaries

Example Sentences

Preparing to release a prothonotary warbler after banding it at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site in Fort Morgan, Ala., last month.Credit...

From New York Times

Rare bird: Yellow-orange with blue-gray wings, the Prothonotary Warbler has been spotted in Fresno.

From New York Times

“I got a camera early on to capture images, and I feel like I’m carrying a rifle around. The joy of collecting is number four. I’m still looking for a prothonotary warbler.”

From New York Times

The Prothonotary warbler that is often among the May crowd is one of the heavyweights of the warbler clan, weighing in at around .45 ounces.

From Washington Times

History, biography, nature explained and unfolded, and even if you don’t care two figs about the migratory patterns of the prothonotary warbler, there’s always the next page-turner.

From New York Times