Geothlypis trichas
There is a great diversity of wood warblers in North American, so it isn't surprising that one has taken to inhabiting wetlands. The Common Yellowthroat shuns the forests so loved by most of its kin; instead it chooses to bound around in a world of cattails, bulrushes and willows. Although yellowthroats might stubbornly refuse to reveal themselves to a waiting pair of binoculars, their oscillating song is heard with very little effort. Common Yellowthroat nests are often parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds, which are primarily birds of open country and commonly target nests in less forested habitats. |
I.D.: General: yellow throat; green upperparts; orange legs. Breeding male: black mask with a pale border. Female: no mask. Size: L 41/2-51/2 in. (11-14 cm). Range: common to fairly common migrant and summer resident throughout the Rockies. Habitat: cattail marshes, riparian willow and alder clumps, sedge wetlands and beaver ponds from the foothills to the lower subalpine. Nesting: low to the ground, usually in a small shrub or among reeds, cattails, bulrushes or other emergent vegetation; large, compact nest is made of weeds, grass and dead leaves; female incubates 3-5 eggs for 12 days. Feeding: gleans vegetation and hovers for adult and larval insects, including dragonflies, spiders and beetles; occasionally eats seeds. Voice: oscillating, clear witchety witchety witchety-witch. Similar Species: male is distinctive. Nashville Warbler: similar to a female yellowthroat, but with a complete eye ring and darker upperparts. |
