Prairie Warbler: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Little Songbirds · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. The prairie warbler is not really a prairie bird. It prefers shrubbery and small trees over open prairie.
2. Prairie warblers wag their tails again and again, just like Palm and Kirtland's warblers.
3. Males sing a different song once paired. B songs are for fighting rivals and guarding territory borders.
4. Brown-headed cowbirds sneak eggs into prairie warbler nests, so the warblers raise cowbird chicks instead of their own.
5. Prairie warblers hunt insects. They mostly glean them from twigs and leaves.

The quiz

1. Where does the prairie warbler prefer to live?

• Open prairie
• Shrubbery and small trees (correct)
• Tall forest canopy
• Reedbeds

It prefers shrubbery and small trees, not true prairie.

2. What do prairie warblers do with their tails?

• Wag them often (correct)
• Fan them out to show off
• Hold them still
• Tuck them under

They wag, or pump, their tails frequently.

3. What are B songs used for?

• Calling the chicks
• Warning of hawks
• Fighting other males and guarding borders (correct)
• Attracting a first mate

B songs are used when fighting other males and near territory borders.

4. Who lays eggs in prairie warbler nests?

• Blue jays
• House sparrows
• Robins
• Brown-headed cowbirds (correct)

Brown-headed cowbirds make the warblers raise cowbird chicks.

5. What do prairie warblers mostly eat?

• Seeds
• Insects (correct)
• Berries
• Fish

They forage for insects, gleaning them from twigs and leaves.

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