Common Yellowthroat
This yellowthroat is a distinctive and common member of the warbler family (Parulidae). (Another local species, the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, is much rarer with entirely different habitat associations.) This species shows complex geographic variation in size and plumage across its broad range in the Americas and therefore is divided into over a dozen subspecies, one of which is endemic to Lake Chapala (“chapalensis”).
The plumage of the adult male is unique: A broad black mask extends from the forehead to behind the eye and across the cheek, to the side of the neck, in stark contrast to the bright yellow chin and upper breast. The mask is bordered above by narrow whitish band. Upperparts (including crown, wings, and tail) are unstreaked uniform olive. Females do not have the mask, but their plumage, size, and shape is otherwise similar to the male, but with less intensity to the yellow.
One of the most attractive and confiding warblers, a year-round resident here, associated with the tall marsh plants—cattails and sedges—along the lakeshore. This yellowthroat is a wetland-loving bird throughout its range, most often seen low in the vegetation. The genus, Geothlypis, is derived from the Ancient Greek, meaning ground bird, referring to the habit of staying low in the vegetation. The species name, trichas, means “thrush,” a mistaken reference by the original taxonomist, Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778).
Yellowthroats are monogamous within the nesting season, however the females are apparently promiscuous and will copulate with males other than their primary mate; however, the frequency of “extra-pair copulations” is unknown. The female constructs the nest, just above the ground and always well concealed and shaded by overhanging vegetation. The clutch may hold up to six eggs, but four is most common. The female incubates for about twelve days. Both parents feed the brood. Chicks are able to fly 20 days post-hatching, and completely independent of parents 30-34 days post-hatching.
Insects comprise most of the diet, such as beetles, spiders, flies, and damselflies. Snakes are common predators, especially of eggs. Mammals that occur in wetlands, such as skunks and racoons, take eggs and nestlings. Kestrels, Merlins, and harriers are known to take adults.
This is a curious bird. The personality of the male is sort of sassy and males will often perch in the open, though never far from the cover of vegetation, and look around when any stimulus, such as a birder’s “pishing,” catches their attention. The females are more retiring, but both sexes are vocal, uttering a distinctive, sharp spitting sound. The males’ song is quite melodic— three notes often described as “wichity, wichity, wichity,” although in Mexico it may sound more like “tortilla, tortilla, tortilla.” To hear the songs click the link
https://youtu.be/3s81oVKxGwE
This recording is by Manuel Grosselet, 2022-08-18 at 07:03 Latitude 19.5014 Longitude -98.9745, Laguna de Texcoco, Texcoco Municipality, Estado de México, Mexico
