Sand Pond Conservation Area is located in southeastern Ripley County, 4.5 miles south of Naylor on Route W. The area contains 302 acres.
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Scientific Name
Protonotaria citrea
Family
Parulidae (New World wood-warblers) in the order Passeriformes
Description
Prothonotary warbler upperparts are golden yellow, with a large dark eye and long dark bill. Wings and tail are blue-gray, with white spots in the tail. Underparts are golden yellow, with white under tail feathers. Female has the same color pattern but is yellowish with gray wings. Song is a loud ringing series: “swank-swank-swank.” Call is a sharp “tsink” or “tink.”
Size
Length: 5½ inches (tip of bill to tip of tail).
Where To Find

Statewide except for the northwestern corner.
Habitat and Conservation
Forests and woodlands, usually near water. Forages in downed logs, dead standing trees and under bark in swamps and along stream banks. This bird often nests in cavities excavated by woodpeckers, but house wrens often outcompete them for these holes. Another problem is nest parasitism by brown cowbirds, which covertly lay their eggs in the warbler’s nest. Their young outcompete the warbler’s young for the parents’ food. Loss of habitat is another factor causing this species’ numbers to fall.
Food
Prothonotary warblers eat insects and other invertebrates from dead logs and trees and under bark, using their efficient, pointy, tweezerlike bills.
Status
Common summer resident.
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
Most arrive in our state in April, and nesting begins soon after they return. This species nests in snags or hollow trees in forests near water. The opening to the cavity is filled with moss, leaves, twigs and bark. There are 4–6 eggs in a clutch, and incubation lasts 12–14 days. After hatching, the young birds fledge after 11 days.
Human Connections
Colorful and with a cheery song, warblers add greatly to our appreciation of springtime forests. It’s named after a college of Roman Catholic clerks, famous for their robes of yellow. In this regard, it’s similar to the northern cardinal, which was named for the red robes worn by Catholic cardinals.
Ecosystem Connections
These warblers are constantly hunting for insects on trees and bark. Like woodpeckers, they help to check populations of wood-eating insects that might otherwise cause great harm to our forest trees.
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Media Gallery
Image

Caption
The swamp-dwelling prothonotary warbler has a yellow head, yellow breast and blue-gray wings.
Credit
Noppadol Paothong
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Credit
MDC Staff
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Caption
Video of prothonotary warblers in the wild.
Credit
Missouri Outdoors
Audio file
Caption
Audio of a Prothonotary warbler.
Credit
Missouri Outdoors
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Image

Credit
Submitted by Rachel Stewart
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Free to use
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Title
Similar Species
Where to See Species
Corkwood Conservation Area is in Butler County, about one mile west of Neelyville on Highway 142.
About Birds in Missouri
About 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in Missouri, though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders. Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Birds are warm-blooded, and most species can fly. Many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. Birds lay hard-shelled eggs (often in a nest), and the parents care for the young. Many communicate with songs and calls.