Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Parulidae
The only warbler in New Jersey that nests in open marshes — you can find them in cattail wetlands, wet thickets, briar tangles, and overgrown fields. Males wear a broad black mask across the face bordered above with white — the 'Lone Ranger' look. One of the most widespread breeding warblers in the state.
Arrives from Central America and the Caribbean in April; departs by October.
How to spot one.
4.5–5 inches
Male: bright yellow throat and chest, olive-green back, striking black mask edged in white
Female: olive-brown overall, pale throat, no mask, buff undertail
Skulks low in dense vegetation
Often heard before seen
What it sounds like.
A bright, distinct 'wichity-wichity-wichity-wich' — easy to learn and unmistakable once you know it.
How it lives.
Skulker — stays low in dense vegetation. Builds cup nests hidden in tangled marsh grass or low shrubs. Hops through vegetation gleaning insects; occasionally hovers to snatch prey.
The spec sheet.
- Status
- Summer breeder
- Size
- 4.3–5.1 inches
- Present in NJ
- April – October
- Native to NJ
- Yes
- Conservation status
- stable
- Family
- Parulidae
What it eats.
Diet often shifts dramatically between breeding season and the rest of the year — especially for insectivorous birds that pivot to native berries in fall and winter.
Summer / breeding season
Grasshoppers, dragonflies, damselflies
Beetles, caterpillars, moths, flies
Ants, leafhoppers, spiders
Some seeds and berries late in season
Fall / winter
Migrates to Central America and the Caribbean
Overwintering diet: insects, spiders, some seeds
What it needs.
Native plants that feed this bird or provide shelter. Names in hydrangea link to the plant’s Field Guide entry.
Cattail marshes, wet thickets
Cover / habitat
Native grasses and sedges
Cover / habitat
Cover / habitat
Briar tangles, overgrown edges
Cover / habitat
Audubon Field Guide · All About Birds (Cornell)
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