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Common Yellowthroat

(Geothlypis trichas)
Linton, Indiana

General Information

The 9 species of Yellowthroats are primarily Central American birds. The Common Yellowthroat, as its name implies, is an abundant species that winters throughout Central America, northwestern South America, extreme southern US and most of the Caribbean islands. During the breeding season, however, it extends its range throughout the US and Canada south of the Canadian Tundra.

The preferred habitat for this species includes wet marshes, wet fields, and the brushy areas nearby. The male announces its presence with a very loud song that sounds like "wichity wichity wichity wich." The call varies a bit geographically. The call note has been described as a distinctive “chack” like throwing a stone into a pile of gravel. Both the female and the male respond well to "pishing" and will often approach closely to investigate.

Some 13 races of the Common Yellowthroat have been described. The individual pictured here was captured in west central Indiana and is likely race G. t. trichas.

The male is characterized by a black mask and a pale blue-gray forecrown band. The female lacks the mask and fore crown band.

Other names for this species that can be found in the literature include Black-masked ground warbler, Florida Yellowthroat, and Maryland Yellowthroat.

The male is readily recognized by the broad black band across the forehead and face. It is dark olive above and yellow below, especially on the throat. Northern and eastern individuals show more whitish on the belly, whereas western races show more yellow in the under parts

Figure 1 - Common Yellowthroat Male

Figure 2 - Common Yellowthroat Male

The black mask of the male is easily seen in this photo. Females are similar to males overall, but lack the black mask.

The bright yellow throat of these birds gives it its name.

Figure 3 - Common Yellowthroat Male

Figure 4 - Common Yellowthroat Male

Another view of the throat
and chin.

The grayish crown contrasts with the dark black facial mask, and serves to hide the eyes by providing cryptic coloration.

Figure 5 - Common Yellowthroat Male

Figure 6 - Common Yellowthroat Crown

This close-up of the crown shows the pale grayish-white band, and the olive green color of the neck and back.

The wing of the adult bird is olive green

Figure 7 - Common Yellowthroat Wing

Figure 8 - Common Yellowthroat Tail

The tips of the tail feathers in adult birds (shown here) are more rounded than the tapered tips of juvenile birds. Look carefully and you can see the dark and light growth bands across the tail feathers. During the night, when the feathers are growing more slowly, they produce dark bands. During the day when the bird is feeding, the feathers grow a bit faster and produce the lighter bands.

This is the location where this bird was captured, banded and released. This scrubby habitat bordering the deep wet ditch is typical Yellowthroat habitat. Observations on this male indicate that a female and nest were located somewhere on the side of the ditch.

Figure 9 - Common Yellowthroat Habitat

Figure 10 - Wintering in the Bahamas

In the winter months, individuals of the eastern race withdraw from their breeding range in North America and winter in the West Indies, the Bahama Islands, Mexico, Central American and extreme northern South America. This photo shows an adult male of the eastern race wintering in the Bahama Islands. Note the grayish fore crown band and the amount of brown on the head of this individual. Resident Bahama Yellowthroats can be distinguished from these wintering birds by their heavier bill, grayer crown and more extensive mask. This individual was captured on Eleuthera Island near Governor’s Harbor. Resident Bahama Yellowthroats on Eleuthera are characterized by a yellowish forecrown band.

Feeding Habits

Common Yellowthroats consume a variety of insects and other arthropods. Butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, mayflies, grubs, cankerworms, aphids, caterpillars, ants, leafhoppers, spiders and other insects are gleaned from leaves, grasses and weeds.

Nesting Behavior

Common Yellowthroats prefer to nest in thickets and along woodland edges near water. The relatively large cup nest of dead grasses leaves and hair is just above ground level near the trunk of a shrub or small tree. Four whitish eggs with brown to black blotches are commonly produced. The female incubates the eggs, and young leave the nest at about 10 days. Two broods may be produced.

This species is heavily predated by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Sometimes, the Yellowthroats will build a new lining over the cowbird eggs to raise its own brood.

A hybrid with the Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) has been reported.

Conservation Status

This species is one of the most common warblers throughout its range where suitable habitat is found. Common Yellowthroats feed on insects, spiders, some seeds and other small invertebrates. Although one of the most frequent cowbird hosts, populations seem to be holding steady. The Breeding Bird Census data shows population declines in some parts of its range, but increases in others. Banded individuals have been recovered that were more than 7 years old.

Further Reading

Baicich, P. J. and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, 2nd Edition. Academic Press, NY. 347 Pp.

Curson, J. D. Quinn and D. Beadle. 1994. Warblers of the Americas. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York. 252 Pp.

Dunn, J. L., K. L. Garrett. 1997. A Field Guide to Warblers of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York. 656 Pp.

Mearns, B., and R. Mearns. 1992. Audubon to Xantus. The lives of those commemorated in North American Bird names. Academic Press, New York, NY. 588 Pp.

Oberle, M. W. 2010. Puerto Rico’s Birds in Photographs. A complete guide and CD-ROM including the Virgin Islands. 136 Pp.

Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds. Part 1. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, CA. 732 Pp.

Raffaele, H. et al. 1998. A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 511 Pp.

Terres, J. K. 1995. The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. Wings Books, NY. 1,109 Pp.

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