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The Common Yellowthroat, also called the “yellow bandit,” is one of the only warblers that nest in open marshes and wetland. They are found all throughout the lower 48 in wet habitats such as swamps and marshes. Although they are still quite abundant and widespread, they have declined in some areas as wetlands rapidly disappear. These small songbirds are olive-brown above and have yellow throats and undersides. Adult males have a black mask that covers their eyes, while females have a plainer brown face. During the summer, the males frequently sing their “wichety-wichety-wichety” song. Unfortunately for these yellow bandits, they are often victims of brood parasitism. A Brown-headed Cowbird will lay an egg in a Yellowthroat nest, and, if undetected, the egg and nestling will hatch earlier and grow faster than the host Yellowthroats’. Luckily, Yellowthroats are not completely defenseless. If they notice damaged or removed eggs in their nest, they will abandon their nest and start a new one or even build a new nest right on top of the old one! To learn more about identifying Common Yellowthroats and other warblers, check out these slides from last week’s Warbler Workshop.
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