One of the most common and widespread warblers in North American, common yellowthroats breed from southeast Alaska to Newfoundland and from the Subarctic treeline to the Gulf Coast. Though they have a preference for marshes, wet meadows and riparian thickets, these small birds also inhabit dry washes of the Desert Southwest and can be found in the lower canyons of western foothills.
The male common yellowthroat is easily identified, sporting a wide black mask across his eyes, which separates a white stripe on his forehead from his bright yellow throat and chest; females are more drab in color, with an olive back and yellow throat, but may have a faint mask as well. Common yellowthroats stay close to the ground, hunting insects among the thickets, cattails, tall grass or shrubs; their loose nest of grass and plant debris is often placed directly on the ground, where both parents incubate the eggs (usually 3 to 5). Since these warblers often remain secluded in dense vegetation, it is their distinctive "witchity-witchity-whitchity" song or sharp chips that first reveal their presence.
Come September, common yellowthroats that breed at northern latitudes depart for the Coastal Plain, Southern California, Mexico or Central America, where their insect prey remains active throughout the year. Until then, we'll enjoy the presence of these energetic, noisy and colorful songbirds in our wetlands and along our streams.
