Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary WarblerProthonotary WarblerProthonotary WarblerProthonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
15 Verified records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. It is named for its plumage, which resembles the yellow robes once worn by papal clerks (named prothonotaries) in the Roman Catholic Church. The prothonotary warbler is the only member of the genus Protonotaria and the only eastern warbler that nests in natural or artificial cavities. These warblers often move with quick, jerky, movements and will even crawl upside down on sticks or trees. During the spring they are often seen in wetlands gathering nesting material, or food, for their mate. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Prothonotary Warbler sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Northern Parula
LC

Northern Parula

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga americana

20–30% · Possible
Hooded Warbler
LC

Hooded Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga citrina

20–30% · Possible
Black-throated Green Warbler
LC

Black-throated Green Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga virens

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

10–20% · With luck
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

10–20% · With luck
Ovenbird
LC

Ovenbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Seiurus aurocapilla

10–20% · With luck
Yellow-throated Warbler
LC

Yellow-throated Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga dominica

10–20% · With luck
Pine Warbler
LC Endemic

Pine Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga pinus

10–20% · With luck
Louisiana Waterthrush
LC

Louisiana Waterthrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parkesia motacilla

10–20% · With luck
Black-throated Blue Warbler
LC

Black-throated Blue Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga caerulescens

5–10% · With luck
Common Yellowthroat
LC

Common Yellowthroat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geothlypis trichas

5–10% · With luck
Chestnut-sided Warbler
LC

Chestnut-sided Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga pensylvanica

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
40–50%
2 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
3 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
30–40%
4 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
5 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
10–20%
6 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
7 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
8 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
9 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
10 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
11 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
12 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
13 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
10–20%
14 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
15 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
16 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
17 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
5–10%
18 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
19 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
20 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
21 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
22 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
23 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
25 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
<5%
26 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
27 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
28 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
29 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
30 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
31 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
32 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
33 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
35 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
36 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
37 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
40 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
44 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
45 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Insufficient data
46 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
47 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
48 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
49 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
50 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
51 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
52 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
53 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
54 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
55 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
56 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
57 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
58 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
59 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Prothonotary Warbler in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 0% of wildlife watchers report a Prothonotary Warbler sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Prothonotary Warbler in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Prothonotary Warbler in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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