National Geographic Magazine/Volume 31/Number 4/Friends of Our Forests/Maryland Yellow-throat

Maryland Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas and variety)


Length, about 5-1/3 inches. Mostly green above, yellow below. Distinguished from other warblers by broad black band across forehead, bordered narrowly with white.

Range: Breeds from southern Canada to southern California, Texas, and Florida; winters from the southern United States to Costa Rica.

This little warbler is common throughout the Eastern and Southern States, frequenting thickets and low bushes on swampy ground. He is not a tree lover, but spends most of his time on or very near the ground, where he hunts assiduously for caterpillars, beetles, and various other small insects. Among the pests that he devours are the western cucumber beetle and the black olive scale. He has a cheery song of which he is not a bit ashamed, and when one happens to be near the particular thicket a pair of yellow-throats have chosen for their own, one has not long to wait for vocal proof that the mate, at least, is at home. The yellow-throat has the bump of curiosity well developed, and if you desire a close acquaintance with a pair you have only to “squeak” a few times, when you will have the pleasure of seeing at least one of the couple venture out from the retreat far enough to make sure of the character of the visitor.

Source: Henry W. Henshaw (April 1917), “Friends of Our Forests”, The National Geographic Magazine 31(4): 304. (Illustration from p. 305.)