Common Yellowthroat's Song

24 x 40 in., airbrushed acrylic

The Common Yellowthroat Warbler covers much of the United States and Canada and is easily recognized by the male's black mask with its contrasted yellow throat along with the darker olives and browns.  It has a primary perch song consisting of two to five notes which is repeated three to five times.  The sound may be converted to speech via wich-i-ty, wich-ity and the phrase may be sung by males over and an entire state area rather than just locally.  Vocal learning occurs in the Common Yellowthroat as witnessed in Massachusetts when a male was observed singing a typical Yellowthroat's song and also the song of a Chestnut-sided Warbler.  This 5" long bird, found in Michigan in the summer, winters in the southern states, Mexico and Central America.  It lives in open fields and marshes.