Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is a common new world warbler found in 35 countries, weighing about 10 g. The common yellowthroat is a New World warbler.
About the Common Yellowthroat
The common yellowthroat is a New World warbler. It is an abundant breeder in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico. In the northern parts of its range the birds are migratory, wintering in the southern parts of the breeding range, Central America and the West Indies. Southern forms are largely resident. Historically, it has also been known as the "yellow bandit", Maryland yellow-throat, and yellow-breasted warbler.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Common Yellowthroat sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Japan.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Yellowthroat?
- Common yellowthroats are small songbirds that have olive backs, wings and tails, yellow throats and chests, and white bellies. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Yellowthroat?
- The Common Yellowthroat is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see a Common Yellowthroat?
- The Common Yellowthroat occurs in 35 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Belize and Cuba.
- What does a Common Yellowthroat sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Yellowthroat on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Yellowthroat?
- The Common Yellowthroat is most easily confused with the MacGillivray's Warbler, the Mourning Warbler and the Kentucky Warbler.
- Is the Common Yellowthroat endangered?
- The Common Yellowthroat is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Yellowthroat for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.