In summer this is one of our commonest warblers, usually found in thickets near wet areas.

A few may linger in such areas until Christmas time in southern Ontario though most go south to Central America and the West Indies in winter.

Yellowthroats are more often heard than seen: their characteristic “wichety – wichety – wichety – witch” betraying their presence around marshes, bogs and wet areas in fields and on roadsides.

Local dialects differ chiefly in the emphasis placed on the various syllables in the song.

In northern Ontario the rare Connecticut Warbler has a somewhat similar song, but is usually more emphatic and with a lip-smacking quality.

Males, with their black masks, outlined above with blue, present no problem in identification.

Females lack the black mask.

Dr. J. Murray Speirs