Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas
Warbler family (Parulidae)

Habitat:
Wet or dry meadows.

Description:
Small warbler, 4” long.  Bright yellow throat and breast, buff flanks, yellow undertail coverts, olive-brown back, whitish belly.  Male (shown in image) – broad black mask with grayish-white border.  Female (not shown) – olive-brown face. 

Nesting:
Loose bulky nest is well hidden in grasses or shrubs, usually 3 feet above the ground.  Eggs are creamy white with brown marks.  Clutch size – usually 4 eggs.

Voice:
Song is a three-syllable “witchity witchity witchity” or a two-syllable “witchee witchee witchee”.

Name Origin:
Geothlypis:  ge, Greek for “earth”; thlypis, Greek for “finch”; trichas, Greek for “thrush”.  Considered to be misnamed by Linnaeus.

In the Nature Park:
Neotropical migrant.  Abundant in open meadows.