Common Yellowthroat: Dr. J. Murray Speirs

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

Common Yellowthroat (female)

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.

Common Yellowthroat (female)

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.

Common Yellowthroat (female)

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

Common Yellowthroat (female)

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

Connecticut Warbler (Audubon Field Guide)

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

male (Audubon Field Guide)

Females lack the black mask.

Common Yellowthroat (female)
Common Yellowthroat (female)
Common Yellowthroat (female)
Common Yellowthroat (female)

Dr. J. Murray Speirs

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