Overview

Prairie Warbler: Small warbler, brown-streaked, olive-green upperparts with reddish-brown streaking, bright yellow underparts with black streaks on sides. Head has a yellow-green cap, yellow face, and dark eye, cheek stripes. Found in pine stands, mangroves and overgrown fields rather than prairies.

Range and Habitat

Prairie Warbler: Breeds from eastern Nebraska, central Wisconsin, southern Ontario, and central New England south to Oklahoma, the Gulf Coast, and Florida; local in many areas. Spends winters in southern Florida and in the tropics. Preferred habitats include mixed pine-oak barrens, old pastures, hillsides scattered with red cedars, open scrub, and mangrove swamps; not often found in prairies.

Breeding and Nesting

Prairie Warbler: Four to five white eggs, with brown spots at large end, are laid in a nest made of grass and leaves, lined with hair and feathers, and usually set low in a bush or small tree. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Prairie Warbler: Eats mostly insects; forages by gleaning foliage, catching insects in mid-air, hovering, clinging to vertical stems, hanging upside down, and feeding on the ground.

Readily Eats

Sugar Water, Fruit, Nut Pieces

Vocalization

Prairie Warbler: Song is a buzzing "zee-zee-zee" with up to 10 rapidly ascending notes.

Similar Species

Prairie Warbler: Palm Warbler is paler below with heavier streaks on breast.