Diet

What do prothonotary warblers eat?

Insects and snails from flooded swamp forest.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea

Spring and summer diet

  • Caterpillars, beetles, mayflies and snails

Fall and winter diet

  • Migrates to mangroves in the tropics

Best feeder foods

  • None — a swamp nest box is the draw

The only eastern warbler that nests in cavities — it readily takes small nest boxes over water.

Which feeder works best for prothonotary warblers →

Frequently asked

What do prothonotary warblers eat?

Insects and snails from flooded swamp forest.

What is the best food to feed prothonotary warblers?

None — a swamp nest box is the draw.

What do prothonotary warblers eat in winter?

Migrates to mangroves in the tropics.

Sources

  1. Prothonotary Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Prothonotary Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Prothonotary Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab

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.