This Prothonotary Warbler eating a dragonfly gave me a fast look at hunting behavior. I was at the Sally Jones Causeway in Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge when the scene unfolded.
The bird dropped toward the road in a flash of yellow. I was already sitting in my pickup with the camera ready.
Prothonotary Warbler Eating a Dragonfly Along the Causeway
The encounter happened on the morning of May 23, 2023, at 7:57 A.M. The setting was low roadside grass along the Sally Jones Causeway in Oklahoma.
The Prothonotary Warbler stood out right away. Its bright yellow plumage made it easy to pick out, even as it moved quickly through the grass.
It had gone after a dragonfly. Once it caught the insect, the warbler held it in its bill and began working on the meal.
The most interesting part was the way it handled the prey. The bird shook its head and stripped away the dragonfly’s wings before eating. That quick motion showed how efficient these small songbirds can be when they catch a large insect.
Photographing the Warbler From My Pickup
I photographed this from inside my pickup. That gave me a steady vantage point and let me stay in place while the bird worked through its meal.
The action did not last long. I kept the camera ready and made frames as the warbler shifted the dragonfly in its bill.
The morning light helped show the yellow plumage and the detail in the insect. The grass also gave the scene a natural setting, even though the bird had dropped close to the road.
Camera and Settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date and time: May 23, 2023, 7:57 A.M.
- Aperture: f/8
- Shutter speed: 1/800
- ISO: 1600, Auto
- Exposure compensation: +0.7
- Focal length: 500 mm
I enjoy moments like this because they show more than a bird perched on a branch. They show how a bird moves, hunts, and handles its food.
This Prothonotary Warbler made quick work of the dragonfly. It was a small scene, but it had plenty of behavior packed into it.
It also reminded me of another feeding moment I photographed, a Prothonotary Warbler feasting on a caterpillar. Both encounters showed how focused these birds can be when they find a meal.