Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Deaver D. Armstrong
Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, Monroe Co., MI (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) 5/28/2007 © Jerry Jourdan Distribution he black mask of the Common Yellowthroat T Historical accounts (Wood 1951, Zimmerman easily helps distinguish this species for the and Van Tyne 1959, Payne 1983) describe the birder but it is an important character for the species as common to abundant and according bird as well. Males with more extensive masks to Barrows (1912) as being “found from are more successful competitors for territories southeastern Michigan to Ontonagon County.” with other males as well as in attracting females Both Michigan Breeding Bird Atlases show that (Pedersen et al. 2006). The characteristic song the Common Yellowthroat was found in more of this species is also well known to birders and townships than any other warbler with little yet each male’s song exhibits enough unique change in statewide distribution between the variation that it becomes easy to identify two atlases. The species continues to occur in a individuals after studying their songs for only a slightly smaller percentage of townships in the short while. The loud song of the Common UP than in the LP. Data in the first atlas Yellowthroat, as well as its ability to nest in a showed that Common Yellowthroats preferred broad range of habitat types, has likely open wetlands or shrub wetlands (60% of all contributed to observations of this species over observations) and in the SLP, they were also the such a broad range of Michigan (almost 90% of most common species found in wet conifer townships reported the species in MBBA II) as forests (Brewer et al. 1991). However, they well as all of North America. The Common used as many as 14 different categories of Yellowthroat breeds in all states in the habitats according to the first atlas, so the continental U.S. and in all Canadian provinces species will nest in upland sites as well as wet as and territories (Guzy and Ritchison 1999). long as the lower vegetation is dense enough to However, western populations can be local, and provide cover for its low nests. so it is the eastern half of North America that has the highest breeding densities (Sauer et al. Breeding Biology 2008). Throughout Michigan the species is a In southern Michigan, Common Yellowthroats common summer resident, a fairly common are double brooded (Hofslund 1953), as are migrant and is even occasionally found in the most Ohio birds (Peterjohn and Rice 1991), but southern Lower Peninsula in early winter only 27% of birds at a study site in southern (Chartier and Ziarno 2004).
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Deaver D. Armstrong
Wisconsin were double brooded (Elias 2006). Conservation Needs This suggests that some birds in the northern LP Common Yellowthroats are not currently at risk of Michigan may produce a second clutch. in Michigan or elsewhere. However, all of these Double brooding in at least some populations of populations can only be helped by preservation Common Yellowthroat could very well of small and large wetlands along with land use contribute to its success in maintaining the planning that protects natural, open space. widespread distribution in Michigan and surrounding areas. Literature Citations In studies done prior to 1950 in Michigan, Barrows, W.B. 1912. Michigan Bird Life. Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism rates were Special Bulletin. Michigan Agricultural found to be 47% and 45 % of nests found College. Lansing, MI. (Hofslund 1953, Stewart 1953). These numbers Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, and R.J. Adams Jr. are much higher than more contemporary data (eds.). 1991. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of from Illinois (an average of 23%), and in Michigan. Michigan State University Press. Ontario (19%), and suggest that this may be East Lansing, MI. another area of Common Yellowthroat biology Chartier, A.T., and J. Ziarno. 2004. A Birder’s to reexamine here in our state (Kleen et al. Guide to Michigan. American Birding 2004, McLaren 2007). Association. Colorado Springs, CO. Elias, J.E. 2006. Common Yellowthroat In Abundance and Population Trends Cutright, N.J., B.R. Harriman, and R.W. (Click to view trends from the BBS) Howe (eds.) 2006. Atlas of the Breeding BBS data from 1966 to 1979 show that Birds of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Society for Common Yellowthroat numbers were Ornithology. Waukesha, WI. significantly increasing in the state at a rate of Guzy, M.J. and G. Ritchison 1999. Common more than 3% per year (Sauer et al. 2008). Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). In The However, between the first and second atlases Birds of North America, No. 448 (A. Poole (1987-2007), these same data show a slight, and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North non-significant decrease in Michigan. USFW America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA Region 3 data (includes Michigan and Hofslund, P.B. 1953. A Life History of the surrounding states) also show a slight decline Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas. over the period covered by the two atlases. Dissertation, University of Michigan, Ann Wisconsin is the only state in the region Arbor, USA. showing a significant positive annual trend from Kleen, V.M., L. Cordle, and R.A. Montgomery. 1966 to 2007 (Sauer et al. 2008). 2004. The Illinois Breeding Bird Atlas. Special Publication No. 26. Illinois Natural In spite of the wide distribution of Common History Survey. Champaign, IL. Yellowthroat throughout Michigan (found on all McLaren, P.E. 2007. Common Yellowthroat. In of the 75 Michigan BBS routes along with 11 Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, other species), the PIF (2007) database suggests D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier (eds.). 2007. that it is only the third most abundant warbler Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, after Ovenbird and Nashville Warbler with an 2001-2005. Bird Studies Canada, estimate of 650,000 individuals in the state. Environment Canada, Ontario Field Michigan is home to an estimated 2% of the Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural world’s population of this species. Resources, and Ontario Nature. Toronto, Ontario.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Deaver D. Armstrong
Partners in Flight (PIF). 2007. PIF Landbird Population Estimates Database [web application]. Version 2004. Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center