DIY Homeschooler

Plate 18: Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

One of several varieties of warblers that enjoy the scrub of many locations … other than the prairie.

The Warblers

NO family of birds is more difficult for a beginner to identify than the warblers. Reasons for this fact are various.

In the first place, warblers are small and agile, and usually inhabit treetops, where it is hard to see their plumage. The number of the species is large, — 155 species are known, 74 of which are found in North America, and 55 in the United States alone.

Bird Biographies

Suggestions

• Print out the notebooking pages provided below.
• Read the The Warbler story in Bird Biographies out loud (you may want to focus on a warbler common in your area).
• Have a younger student orally narrate what was read. He can then copy a few lines of his narration onto the notebooking pages.
• Older students can read the text, Plate XVIII: Prairie Warbler, and provide a written narration.
• Sketch the bird. This encourages attention to detail, which will aid in identifying the bird later on. Another option is to use the printables provided below.
• Sketch the nest of the bird, along with the eggs. Note where the nest is usually found.
• Older students can include the taxonomy.
• Learn more about the Prairie Warbler at What Bird.
• On one notebooking page note the facts:
  • Description.
  • Habitat.
  • Range.
  • Food.
  • Nest.
  • Eggs.
  • Call.

Additional Resources

30 Narration Ideas
At some point you might appreciate some variety.

The Bird Study sections of our free nature study series: Our Wonderful World:

• Free Nature Studies: Hunting Birds With Eyes & Camera
• Free Nature Studies: Bird Guardians (Owls)
• Free Nature Studies: Landlord to the Birds

Printables & Notebooking Pages

Prairie Warbler Notebooking Pages
Free simple notebooking set.

Prairie Warbler
Bird picture for notebook.

Prairie Warbler Range Map
For notebook from WhatBird.com.

Bird Facts Notebooking Page
One option in a more graphic organizer style that is especially nice for noting the facts and range.

Enjoy the entire series: