Common Yellowthroat

Fairly common in Sonoma County in suitable habitat during the summer months, somewhat less common in winter, but present all year. This warbler--Common Yellowthroat is classed among the warblers--is nearly always associated with water. Seen near freshwater ponds, marshes, and streams but also uses brackish marshy areas near estuaries. A skulker. Tends to stay low in reeds or other vegetation near the waterline or along shore. Often twitches its tail or holds its tail cocked upright. Hops when on the ground. Behavior often described as “wren-like.” Mostly insect diet.

Common Yellowthroat is highly variable geographically. Fifteen or more subspecies are recognized (11 is another commonly quoted number). Two (or three, depending on source) subspecies are present locally. The common subspecies in Santa Rosa and north of Santa Rosa is Geothlypis trichas occidentalis (although some sources say G. c. arizela instead). The second, known as Saltmarsh Yellowthroat (G. c. sinuosa), lives in the southern part of the county, particularly in brackish and saltwater marshes near San Pablo Bay (confined to saltwater marshes in the immediate San Francisco Bay Area generally), but I can find no information about what separates the races visually. The differences appear to be subtle. Subspecies aside, Common Yellowthroat breeds in favored habitat in much of the county. Winters in Southwestern and southern United States and along the Pacific Coast, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies.

A male Common Yellowthroat is striking and hard to confuse with any other bird (photo above). The black mask with pale upper border is unique. Olive to brownish on nape and back. Yellow at throat, upper breast, and under the tail. Light olive-buff to pale elsewhere on the underside. Longish, dark tail. Adult females are quite drab, usually plain grey with no black in the face but showing yellow at the throat, upper breast, and under the tail (photo at bottom of page). First-year males are similar but usually show some black or a suggestion of black in the mask area (photo below). First-year females can be quite drab indeed, showing very little color at all, but there is almost always a clearly delineated pale area at the throat. The very drab bird pictured below is probably a first-year female, but some first-year males show no black in the face, which makes them more or less indistinguishable from young females. Females, especially first-year birds, may suggest Orange-crowned Warbler.

Yellowthroats love to sing in the spring and summer. The song is usually described as sounding like wichity-wichity-wichity, but I have seen references to tortilla-tortilla-tortilla as a descriptor (Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas) and the song is somewhat variable. The chip note of the Yellowthroat (something like tchep!) is distinctive and worth learning (see link below). Because of its secretive behavior, Common Yellowthroat is frequently heard but not seen.

Trivia: The genus name Geothlypis means “ground-hugging”--appropriate given Common Yellowthroat’s habits. Frequent Cowbird host.

English synonyms: Belding's Yellowthroat, Black-Masked Ground Warbler, Florida Yellowthroat, Goldman's Yellowthroat, Maryland Yellowthroat, Northern Yellowthroat, Pacific Yellowthroat, Saltmarsh Yellowthroat, Southern Yellowthroat, Tule Yellowthroat, Western Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat in other languages--German: Gelbkehlchen, Weidengelbkehlchen; Spanish: Antifacito Norteño, Caretica, Chipe de Cara Negra, Ciguíta Enmascarada, Cigüita Enmascarada, Cuelliamarillo Común, Enmascarado Norteño, Mascarita Común, Reinita de Antifaz, Reinita Gorgigualda, Reinita Pica Tierra; French: Fauvette masquée, Paruline à gorge jaune, Paruline masquée, Sylvette masquée; Russian: Желтогорлый масковый земляной певун, Желтогорлый масковый певун; Chinese: 黄喉地莺; Japanese: カオグロアメリカムシクイ(kaoguroamerikamushikui)

(Language information from Avibase, Birds of Europe (Mullarney et al, Princeton Field Guide Series), and Birds of Asia (Mark Brazil, Princeton Field Guide Series).