Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Reddish streaks on back are distinctive, but can be difficult to see or absent on immatures. approximation (map and booklet of map unit tables), USDA Forest Service. 2000. Song is a thin, rising zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zee. successional pine habitats; optimal shape or distance between suitable patches The prairie warbler's nests are open cups, which are usually placed in a low area of a tree or shrub. Harrison, H. H. 1979. Prairie Warblers breed in Texas in disturbed situations reverting to woodland with young trees and bushes and open areas and also at shrubby woodland edges. Prairie warbler adult upperparts are olive, with reddish streaking on the back. The prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Dawson and B.A. Reproduction. The Prairie Warbler Prairie Warblers breed in early successional habitats—overgrown fields with sparse, young trees, and prefer to nest in shrubs or trees no more than 10 feet off the ground. Atlantic coast and parts of the Great Lakes, the Great Dismal Swamp, the In the south the species is found in areas of 1999). go to: Bibby, C.J., N.D. Burgess, and D.A. The second type is sung at the boundaries of the male's territory to deter rivals . Along with other migratory birds, they also face threats ranging from collisions with glass to free-roaming cats. The Central Hardwoods Joint Venture, of which ABC is a partner, is actively promoting healthy habitat for this species. The species is often associated with common juniper, oak, and white pine. DeGraaf, R.M. "Two kinds of preserves are needed to accommodate breeding populations. All surveys should be conducted between sunrise and 10:30 am during good to fair weather conditions (e.g., low winds, dry). Along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, Prairie Warblers are found in rock barrens with sparse and shrubby vegetation, as illustrated by the photos below of locations where we detected Prairie Warblers. scrub" (Nearctica). Apparently confusing this landscape with true tallgrass prairie, he gave the bird its common name. Extensive tracts of forest should not be fragmented with numerous open areas, since many species are sensitive to patch size and cowbird parasitism increases as habitats become more fragmented. In the resulting compact cup, the female usually lays 4 (range 3-5) very pale cinnamon or gray eggs, spotted or dotted with browns or grays. Avoids high elevations (DeGraaf and Rudis 1986); sea level to 1220 m elevation They are present year-round in parts of Florida; they overwinter in the West Indies. She brings insect or spider webs and forms a network attached to supporting plants. SEASONAL OCCURRENCE. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI 3pp. Bird Census Techniques. Species Donate to support ABC's conservation mission! Warblers of Eastern North America. In 1810, Alexander Wilson, whom many consider the "father of American ornithology," found this species living in a barrens habitat near Bowling Green, Kentucky. The male Prairie Warbler sings two types of song, which are superficially similar but differ in volume and speed. This includes restoring more than 100,000 acres of woodlands since 2011 and reforesting recently abandoned farm fields to creating “glades”—sunny areas within the forest—that benefit many species. Species Other collaborative efforts, such as our Migratory Bird Program, are focusing on habitat conservation on the bird's wintering grounds in the Caribbean. Typical songs consist of 8-14 notes. Prairie Warblers are rare to uncommon summer residents of the eastern quarter of Texas (Lockwood and Freeman 2004). D. D. DISCOLOR, these include: (1) natural areas that have likely sustained Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, CA. Present in Missouri from mid-April through early September. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Migration from fourth week of April to second week of May, Migration from third week of August to fourth week of September, Nesting from third week of May to fourth week of July.