Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
The male's distinctive black mask has earned it the nickname 'the masked bandit of the marsh.'
- Scientific name
- Geothlypis trichas
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Parulidae › Geothlypis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Marshes, wet thickets, drainage ditches, and brushy areas near water sources.
- Diet
- Primarily insects and spiders, including beetles, grubs, and dragonflies.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Caribbean
- Size
- Length: 11-13 cm; Weight: 7-12 grams.
- Lifespan
- Up to 10 years in the wild, though many live only 2-3 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation, window collisions, and predation by outdoor domestic cats.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance of 15-20 feet to avoid disrupting its foraging or nesting behavior. If you find a stunned bird near a window, place it in a dark, ventilated box and contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
The common yellowthroat ( Geothlypis trichas ) is a New World warbler. It is an abundant breeder in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico. The genus name Geothlypis is from Ancient Greek geo , "ground", and thlupis , an unidentified small bird; thlypis is often used in the scientific names of New World warblers. The specific trichas is also from Greek; trikhas is a kind of thrush, the word being derived from trikhos , "hair".
Photo: David Bird, CC0, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/585ee048-31d0-477e-8874-ea44f80da6e8.md