Prothonotary Warbler - Mesa County

[Mike Henwood]

What a surprise!  This morning while enjoying a cup of coffee and a freshly baked scone on the back patio, I had a Prothonotary Warbler pass through the yard.  I heard a chip and saw a flash of bright yellow, so thinking I had a Wilson's Warbler in the back yard, I started studying the mulberry bush.  To my surprise, it turned out to be a Prothonotary Warbler.  I had several good looks at the bird from 10-12 yards away as it fed in the lower level of the large mulberry bush.

Much larger than a Wilson's Warbler with a bright golden yellow head and body, plain face with distinct dark eye and large pointed dark bill, olive green back, unmarked bluish wings, white under tail coverts contrasting sharply with yellow body.  Very sharp contrast with yellow head, olive green back and bluish wings leads me to believe it was a male.

The Prothonotary Warbler fed for a few minutes in the mulberry bush before taking flight to the east and our neighbor's yard.  There is a drainage with a small stream and thick underbrush with some trees less than 100 yards from where I saw the Prothonotary Warbler.  I searched the area, but was unable to find the Prothonotary.  Did turn up a Western Tanager and some Yellow-rumped Warblers in the wash.

What a treat!  

Mike Henwood

Grand Junction 

Mesa County