How to attract prothonotary warblers to your yard
Prothonotary Warblers respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 26 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. It arrives only to breed in 26, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and 20 more, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what prothonotary warblers use
These native plants are tied to the Prothonotary Warbler in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 26 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 26 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 26 | Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed. |
| White oak Quercus alba | Tree | 26 | Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | 24 | Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants. |
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 23 | Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers. |
| Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | 20 | Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 15 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial | 12 | Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 7 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives prothonotary warblers food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Insects and snails from flooded swamp forest.
- Warm months
- Caterpillars, beetles, mayflies and snails
- Cold months
- Migrates to mangroves in the tropics
- At feeders
- None — a swamp nest box is the draw
Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. The only eastern warbler that nests in cavities — it readily takes small nest boxes over water. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Tree cavity or nest box standing in or over water.
The Prothonotary Warbler uses nest boxes with a 1 1/8 in entrance, mounted 3–6 ft over water. Exact box dimensions →
- Clutch
- 3–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Nestling period
- 10 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around March in Alabama but not until May in Wisconsin. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts prothonotary warblers to a yard?
Food they actually eat (none — a swamp nest box is the draw), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Serviceberry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: tree cavity or nest box standing in or over water.
What plants attract prothonotary warblers?
Across the Prothonotary Warbler's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting prothonotary warblers?
Nesting starts around March in Alabama and as late as May in Wisconsin. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.
Sources
- Prothonotary Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Prothonotary Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Prothonotary Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.