Common Yellowthroat

The Common Yellowthroat (scientific name - Geothlypis trichas) is a small warbler that is found throughout North America as far north as the Yukon Territory in Canada. The males have a distinctive black mask and a bright yellow throat. The females of the species do not have the mask and are more brown than the males, although they do have a bit of a yellow throat. The birds in the western part of North America have a more yellow belly than their eastern counterparts.  These birds winter as far south as Central America and some can be found year round in parts of Mexico and Florida. They like to frequent tangled vegetation often near marshes and wetlands. Photos taken in Chilliwack, B.C. at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in October 2015 and May 2016(top).