Common Yellowthroat

Finding this Yellowthroat in the trees and not calling from atop a common prairie perch was a great surprise! It is probably a top 5 favorite of mine, as I love masked birds!

Common Yellowthroat

A personal favorite characteristic of mine are birds with masks. The Common Yellowthroat's wide black mask is at the top of the list for "Best mask"!



It's "wichety-witchety-witchety" call is a very distinctive sound, but seeing one requires a bit of luck.

Common Yellowthroats

Another first for me, the Common Yellowthroat has been elusive throughout this year... To be honest, I didn't even know about them until hooking up with other bird blogs and seeing their unusual markings, and learning about them. Ever since, I've been looking, but have been unsure of their behavior. I knew that they were a prairie bird, but that was about it. I thought it odd that I had never seen them, because of the time I have spent over the years, out at Goose Lake Prairie. Then...Finally...I see one after hearing a song, and looking though the lens... Oh, it truly was exciting...



Then I mentally recorded their song...And heard another one...Oooh, this is getting kinda easy...



I now understood why I haven't seen any before, because it is not easy getting close...



Ever since discovering them, I am addicted to finding them, and with some luck, I found this female...



They have become one of my favorite birds because of their markings, and because of their elusiveness! Who doesn't love a challenge?

Source: All About Birds. A skulking masked warbler of wet thickets, the Common Yellowthroat is far more frequently heard than seen. Its "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty" can be heard from the Yukon to Newfoundland, and from southern Florida to southern Mexico.