Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat male

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Common Yellowthroat, female

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A skulking masked warbler of wet thickets, the Common Yellowthroat is far more frequently heard than seen. Its "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty" can be heard from the Yukon to Newfoundland, and from southern Florida to southern Mexico.

Description

• Small songbird.
• Plain olive green back, wings, and tail.
• Yellow throat and upper chest.
• Male has distinctive black mask.

• Size: 11-13 cm (4-5 in)
• Wingspan: 15-19 cm (6-7 in)
• Weight: 9-10 g (0.32-0.35 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male with black mask, female dull.

Sound

Song a musical "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty." Call note a distinctive sharp "tchat."

Conservation Status

Not threatened or endangered, but is decreasing in many areas. Local nonmigratory populations in some areas face potential extinction from habitat loss and disturbance.

Other Names

Paruline masquée (French)
Mascarita común, Reinita gargan tiamarilla, Caretica, Cigüita enmascarada, Reinita pica tierra (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Nine species of yellowthroats currently are recognized, most living in Mexico, all with black masks and yellow throats. Even more recognizable forms exist, with 12 subspecies of the Common Yellowthroat described north of Mexico. Just what the boundaries are between species and subspecies in this taxonomic complex remains to be completely worked out.

• As a small bird, the Common Yellowthroat is vulnerable to a large number of bird-eating predators, such as Merlins and Loggerhead Shrikes. Yellowthroats occasionally are captured and eaten by unusual predators too. Observations have been made of Chuck-will's-widow eating yellowthroats on migration, and one adult Common Yellowthroat was taken from the stomach of a largemouth bass.

• The Common Yellowthroat is apparently monogamous within a breeding season and only infrequently will males be seen with two mates in their territory. Females, however, show no fidelity to their mates and often attract other males with their calls. The true genetic mating system of this species remains to be worked out.

• One subspecies of Common Yellowthroat is resident in the Rio Grande river delta in Texas. It holds territories throughout the winter, and not only keeps other individuals out of its territory, but it also keeps migrant yellowthroats of other races completely out of its habitat.

Sources used to construct this page:

Guzy, M. J., and G. Ritchison. 1999. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). In The Birds of North America, No. 448 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.