Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Small warbler, dull olive overall with intense yellow throat. Adult males have black mask bordered above by a white band. Females and immatures are duller but always have contrasting yellow throat and undertail coverts. Common and widespread breeder throughout North America. Found in shrubby wet areas, including marshes, forest edges, and fields. Often hides in thick vegetation, but males often perch conspicuously when singing. Listen for ringing “witchity-witchity-witchity” song and low, harsh call notes. Very short, rounded wings, which equates to it being a short-distance migrant: winters from the southern U.S. to Central America.
Identification
Common yellowthroats are small songbirds that have olive backs, wings and tails, yellow throats and chests, and white bellies. Adult males have black face masks which stretch from the sides of the neck across the eyes and forehead, which are bordered above with white or gray. Females are similar in appearance, but have paler underparts and lack the black mask. Immature birds are similar in appearance to the adult female. First-year males have a faint black mask which darkens completely by spring.<p>There are 13 races of this bird. These races differ mainly in the males' facial patterns and the brightness of the yellow underparts. The southwestern forms of this bird are the brightest and the yellowest below.<p>Measurements:
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Geothlypis trichas
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Parulidae
- Genus
- Geothlypis
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- NA, MA : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- to w SA
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Common yellowthroat nests are commonly subject to brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater).
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ethiopian Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus monacha
A mostly yellow bird with a black hood and a red bill. The tail pattern varies geographically; it can be largely plain olive-and-yellow, or it can show black patches. Found in lush woodland and montane forest at middle elevations in the Abyssinian highlands. Very similar to African Black-headed Oriole, but usually separated by habitat and range. Further distinguished by the wing pattern, which is plainer, with a long gray patch, and without bold white feather edgings. Song is a series of slurred, liquid whistles, and calls include raspy notes.
White-throated Woodcreeper
Xiphocolaptes albicollis
Large woodcreeper with a relatively small head and a long, robust, and slightly decurved bill. Found in humid forests including Araucaria forest where it forages at all levels. Rufous-brown body with a pale face and throat, and buff streaking on the neck and crown. The breast is buffy with white streaks and the belly is barred. Sometimes found in association with army-ant swarms or mixed-species flocks. Loud, far-carrying song is a whine followed by a descending series of 4–6 disyllabic whistles.
Spot-flanked Barbet
Tricholaema lacrymosa
Chunky, medium-sized black-and-white barbet. There is a black triangle on the throat and large spots on the sides of the belly. Found in a variety of habitats including moist woodland and gallery forest. Generally in lusher habitats than other closely related barbets. The two main calls are a slow series of “kwaa” notes and a fast series of nasal “kye” notes. Easily separated from similar barbets by the spotted underparts and pale eye.
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