Prothonotary Warbler
(Protonotaria citrea)

Overview

Summary

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In Canada, the Prothonotary Warbler breeds exclusively in the deciduous swamp forests of southwestern Ontario, at the northern limit of its breeding range. Annual surveys indicate the species has experienced a large decrease in population since about 1970. The species was listed as Endangered in 1996 (and re-assessed as Endangered in 2007) by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada due to its very small Canadian population (roughly 30 individuals) and restrictive habitat requirements, which make it susceptible to habitat loss on both its wintering and breeding grounds (COSEWIC 2007). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Population status

Population estimate

Distribution maps

• BirdLife International / NatureServe
• Breeding Bird Survey (BBS): Relative Abundance and Breeding Distribution (1993-2012)
• Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario (2001-2005): Breeding evidence

Migration strategy, occurrence

Responsibility for conservation of world population

Conservation and management

The Prothonotary Warbler is thought to be mainly affected by loss and degradation of its primary breeding habitat, deciduous swampland, and of its wintering habitat, coastal mangrove forests in Latin America (COSEWIC 2007). Invasive plants and insects that may degrade the habitat are also of concern (COSEWIC 2007). A rescue effect from the larger populations in the United States, though possible, is unlikely (COSEWIC 2007). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view the Recovery Strategy, see the SARA Registry.

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

• conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
• stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
• management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
• other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

References

• COSEWIC. 2007. COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 31 pp. COSEWIC. 2007. COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 31 pp. (Link)
• McCracken, J.D. and K. Vande Somple. 2009. The 2008 Prothonotary Warbler Recovery Program in Canada. Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, Ontario. Available from lead author. 45 pp.