Prairie Warbler

Status Uncommon vagrant. Since the first bird was recorded at Louisbourg on 21 September 1964 (J. and G. Lunn), there have been over 100 records of over 200 individuals. Oddly, only one appeared in spring: a bird on Cape Sable on 11-12 May 1979 (B.J. and S. Smith). The rest have been reverse fall migrants. Generally they first appear in August (average 25 August, earliest 26 July). An earlier migrant was captured during a crossing of the ferry Bluenose on 22 July 1978 and released near Yarmouth (R.D. Vickery). Latest sightings are routinely through October (average 12 October, latest 31 October). A well-documented straggler was found during the Halifax East Christmas Bird Count near Cow Bay, Halifax County, on 17 December 1983 (F. Lavender).

Remarks It is hard to believe that this conspicuous, yellow, tail-wagging warbler, with its distinctive face and flank markings, could have been completely overlooked prior to 1964. Its present regularity probably reflects its recent range expansion; it now breeds as near as coastal Maine.