# Common Yellowthroat

*Geothlypis trichas*

The male's distinctive black mask has earned it the nickname 'the masked bandit of the marsh.'

- **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.

## About

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".

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/585ee048-31d0-477e-8874-ea44f80da6e8
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9721
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothlypis trichas
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/79301180/medium.jpg (David Bird, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.