Prairie WarblerPrairie Warbler -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 5 inches | Wingspan: 7.5 inches | Seasonality: Rare Visitor |
| ID Keys: Plain olive upperparts, yellow on chest with dark streaks on sides, 2 white wingbars. | ||
Prairie Warbler
Dendroica discolor
The Prairie Warbler is poorly named, as they are primarily found in shrubby dense thickets. Much of their preferred habitat is a result of forest disturbance or the abandonment of farm fields. As these areas eventually progress to a mature forest again, they are forced to find new areas of disturbance to colonize.
Habitat: Prefers brushy habitat and thickets, such as second growth forest, forest edges, shrubby forest undergrowth, and brushy fields. Can also be found in mangrove swamps in Florida.
Diet: Primarily feeds on insects. Will also occasionally take berries or sap from sapsucker wells.
Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota
Song: A thin rising zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee. Click here to listen to the Prairie Warbler's song.
Migrations: Summers throughout much of the eastern United States, except in the upper Midwest/Great Lakes region, and northern New England. Winters in Florida and the Caribbean, with some Florida birds being permanent residents.
Similar Species: Palm Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Cape May Warbler
Status: Numbers appear to have declined in recent decades, possibly due to habitat changes.
Further Information: 1)
USGS
Patuxent
Bird Identification InfoCenter, Prairie Warbler
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Prairie Warbler"
3) eNature.com: Prairie Warbler
Photo Information: Newton Hills State Park - June 5th, 2007 - Terry L. Sohl
Special Note: The photo on this page, and all the photos accessed through the image chips or links below, are of a very misplaced Prairie Warbler who was found by a group of birders at Newton Hills State Park in Lincoln County, Spring 2007. Despite the nearest normal breeding range being found in Missouri, this bird was singing furiously along Sergeant Creek in the Park. It had obviously established territory, singing repeatedly from a series of perches. It was postulated that the bird may be courting female Yellow Warblers. This male Prairie Warbler was found constantly chasing male Yellow Warblers in the area.
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Prairie Warbler photos.
| Additional Prairie Warbler Photos | ||
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| Prairie Warbler 1 | Prairie Warbler 2 | Prairie Warbler 3 |
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| Prairie Warbler 5 |
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
