Common Yellowthroat    Geothlypis trichas

Migratory Status: Neotropical migrant

PIF Population Estimate: 32 000 000

Percent of western hemisphere population breeding in boreal forest: >25%

BAM Effective Detection Radius (m) : 69.17

PIF Maximum Detection Distance (m) : 125

Canadian BBS Population trend: -0.6 (-1.2 to -0.1)

Life History

The Common Yellowthroat is a common and widespread breeding bird in most forested regions of North America. The male is conspicuous with a characteristic yellow throat and upper breast, olive upperparts, and extensive black face mask. The diagnostic song, often paraphrased as “witchity-witchity-witchity”, is easily recognized.

The breeding range includes portions of southeast Alaska, southern Yukon Territory, and southwestern Mackenzie District, east to Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces. Breeding also occurs throughout the United States, although the distribution becomes discontinuous in the desert southwest. The wintering grounds include portions of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Greater Antilles, along with Bermuda.

The Common Yellowthroat typically forages on the ground or in low vegetation, gleaning insects from foliage or within the plant litter. The Common Yellowthroat has evolved a shorter tail and wings to facilitate movement in areas of dense vegetation.

Reference(s)

Guzy, M. J., and G. Ritchison. 1999. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), The Birds of North America, No. 448. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists's Union, Washington, D.C.