Prothonotary Warbler

Status Rare vagrant. An early sight record by James Bouteillier of "several" on Sable Island on 7 September 1903 (McLaren 1981a) is plausible in view of recent occurrences. The next report, well documented by Guy A. Tudor, was of a male aboard MS Thorshall about 50 km off Halifax on 13 September 1953. Since then it has been quite regular with about 40 reports of 46 individuals, including several specimens and photographs. More than half have been found on the offshore and southwestern islands, but there are reports from throughout the province, including four from Cape Breton Island. Spring birds include a dozen occurring between 18 April and 9 June; an extraordinarily early one occurred at Cole Harbour, Halifax County, on 6 April 1973 (M. and R. Eaton). The rest have been reverse fall migrants, between 10 August and 28 October, with 12 birds in August,14 in September and 7 in October.

Remarks This is a brilliantly costumed, golden-yellow warbler with blue-gray wings without wing bars. It nests north to northern New Jersey, central New York State and southern Ontario, and its conspicuousness probably contributes to its relatively frequent detection as a vagrant.