The prairie warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.
Region
Eastern North America and the Caribbean
Typical Environment
Breeds across the eastern United States from New England and the Great Lakes region south through the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, and the Southeast, locally into Texas. It prefers early-successional scrub, young pine stands, powerline corridors, and barrens. In winter it occurs in the Florida Keys and widely through the Bahamas and Greater Antilles, with smaller numbers along parts of the Caribbean coast of Mexico and Central America. Mangroves are important winter habitat in the southern part of its range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its name, the prairie warbler rarely breeds in true prairies; it favors scrubby, early-successional habitats like old fields, pine barrens, and regenerating clearcuts. Males often sing from exposed perches and characteristically pump or bob their tails while foraging. A distinctive mangrove-dwelling subspecies in the Florida Keys is of conservation concern.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Breeding males defend small territories in scrub and edge habitats, often singing from high, exposed perches. The female builds a small cup nest low in shrubs or saplings and lays 3–5 eggs. Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism occurs in parts of its range. Outside the breeding season it may join loose mixed flocks in wintering areas.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
The song is a buzzy, ascending series of zee notes that accelerates or intensifies toward the end. Calls are thin, sharp tsip or tstit notes. Males sing persistently during early morning and at territory boundaries.
