This Little Bird Helped Convict a Spy
A bright yellow bird, the Prothonotary Warbler is near the top of every bird photographer’s list when out and about in wooded swamps, especially along river banks. It was near the banks of the Potomac River where spy Alger Hiss saw a Prothonotary Warbler. From birdsoftheworld.com:
“This warbler also holds a place in recent U.S. history by being partly responsible for the conviction of alleged spy Alger Hiss and the corresponding political rise of Richard Nixon. Although Hiss repeatedly denied ever knowing Whittaker Chambers, the ex- communist who accused him of espionage, Chambers had testified that the men were friends. To verify this, Chambers admitted knowledge about many personal issues, including that Hiss was an amateur ornithologist who had been excited at seeing a Prothonotary Warbler along the Potomac River. When asked later, Hiss independently admitted that he had seen the warbler along the river. As a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee investigating the Hiss allegations, freshman congressman Richard Nixon played a prominent role in proving that the two men knew each other and that Hiss had perjured himself.” (1)
I found my little Prothonotary Warbler at Lettuce Lake Park, a Hillsborough County Conservation Park about 25 minutes (depending on traffic) from my house. Lettuce Lake Park has a raised boardwalk along the marshy edge of the Hillsborough River. It’s perfect habitat for a Prothonotary.
Prothonotary Warbler. The name “Prothonotary” originally referred to a group of official scribes in the Catholic Church who wore bright yellow hoods, as this bird appears to do (2). Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 lens at ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/200 sec.
Prothonotary Warbler. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 lens at ISO 720, f/5.6, 1/200 sec.
Prothonotary Warbler. In this photo the bird is on the ground near the base of the boardwalk where he was able to snag a caterpillar. This perspective also allows you to appreciate the contrast between the bright orange-yellow head and the greenish back. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 lens at ISO 1800, f/5.6, 1/200 sec.
Prothonotary Warbler. The Prothonotary is unique among warbler in that it is the only eastern wood-warbler that nests in tree cavities. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 lens at ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/200 sec.
Prothonotary Warbler singing while perched on the boardwalk railing. Nikon Z9 with handheld Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/5.6 lens at ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/2500 sec.
Sources:
Petit, L. J. (2020). Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.prowar.01
Prothonotary Warbler. Audubon Guide to North American Birds. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/prothonotary-warbler, accessed 26 Jun 23.
