Bird Guide

Common Yellowthroat vs MacGillivray's Warbler

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Tiny10 gWetland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Keith · CC BY 2.0
MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Tiny10 gForest

MacGillivray's warbler is 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) long, weighs 9 to 13 g (0.32 to 0.46 oz), and has a wingspan of 19 cm (7.5 in). Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a mostly medium gray head and nape that often has a brownish or olive wash. They have darker gray to blackish lores and line through the eye and wide white crescents above and below the eye. Their back, rump, and uppertail coverts are yellowish olive-green. Their wings and tail are blackish brown with olive-green feather edges. Their throat and upper breast are medium gray, often with a brownish wash. Voice: The primary song of male MacGillivray's warbler is "6-8 syllables described as churry churry churry churry cheery cheery". Both sexes make calls, "a harsh chip note" and "a high-frequency chip". Males sing mostly at dawn and dusk, typically from a high perch.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Caleb Putnam · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Yellowthroat and MacGillivray's Warbler.