Yellowthroat

File:GeothlypisKeulemans.jpg

Heads of Geothlypis taxa

The yellowthroats are New World warblers in the genus Geothlypis. Most members of the group have localised ranges in Mexico and Central America, but the masked yellowthroat has an extensive South American distribution, while the common yellowthroat breeds over much of North America.

All the yellowthroats have similar plumage, with yellow-green upperparts, yellow breast, and a mainly black bill. The adult male has a black facemask of variable extent, usually bordered above with a grey band. The female is similar, but lacks the black mask, and may be duller in plumage.

The breeding habitat of these warblers is typically marshes and other wet areas with dense low vegetation. The eggs, two in most species, but up to five for common yellowthroat, are laid in a lined cup nest low in grass or rank vegetation.

Yellowthroat are usually seen in pairs, and do not associate with other species. They are often skulking, and feed on a range of insects.

The taxonomy of these closely related species is complicated, and it is sometimes difficult to define which forms merit species status. For example, common yellowthroat, Belding's yellowthroat, Altamira yellowthroat, and Bahama yellowthroat are sometimes considered conspecific. Conversely masked yellowthroat can be split to three or even four species. The name 'yellowthroat' is sometimes used as an alternate name for the yellow-throated leaflove.

The geographical isolation of the various populations of this mainly sedentary group has led to its genetic divergence and speciation. This process can be seen in action in the case of masked yellowthroat, where the subspecies are separated by rainforest or the Andes, leading to the development of distinctive forms, such as the Central American race Geothlypis aequinoctialis chiriquensis. This form is found in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, and is separated by 1000 km from its South American cousins, from which it differs in size, appearance and vocalisations.

The Kentucky warbler, mourning warbler, and MacGillivray's warbler, all previously thought to have been members of the genus Oporornis, have since been moved to Geothlypis.

Species

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
File:Common Yellowthroat by Dan Pancamo.jpg	Geothlypis trichas	Common yellowthroat	southern Canada to central Mexico.
File:Belding's Yellowthroat.jpg	Geothlypis beldingi	Belding's yellowthroat	southern Baja California, Mexico.
File:Altamira Yellowthroat (Geothlypis flavovelata) male.jpg	Geothlypis flavovelata	Altamira yellowthroat	Gulf slope of northeastern Mexico
File:Bahama Yellowthroat (Geothlypis rostrata) held in hand, side view.jpg	Geothlypis rostrata	Bahama yellowthroat	the Bahamas.
File:Olive-crowned Yellowthroat (24488815273).jpg	Geothlypis semiflava	Olive-crowned yellowthroat	Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
File:Black-polled Yellowthroat - cropped.jpg	Geothlypis speciosa	Black-polled yellowthroat	central Mexico and the southwestern Mexican Plateau, in Guanajuato, Michoacán, and México State.
	Geothlypis aequinoctialis	Masked yellowthroat	Venezuela and Colombia to n Amazonian Brazil and Trinidad
File:Geothlypis chiriquensis 1902.jpg	Geothlypis chiriquensis	Chiriqui yellowthroat	southwestern Costa Rica to Panama
File:Geothlypis auricularis Keulemans.jpg	Geothlypis auricularis	Black-lored yellowthroat	western Ecuador to western Peru
File:Southern Yellowthroat (Geothlypis velata).jpg	Geothlypis velata	Southern yellowthroat	southeastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, and south Amazonian Brazil to Argentina and Uruguay
File:Grey-crowned Yellowthroat - Sarapiqui - Costa Rica (26652422686).jpg	Geothlypis poliocephala	Gray-crowned yellowthroat	Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States.
File:Hooded yellowthroat (Geothlypis nelsoni) Lerma.jpg	Geothlypis nelsoni	Hooded yellowthroat	Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
File:Geothlypis tolmiei Hungry Horse MT 2.jpg	Geothlypis tolmiei	MacGillivray's warbler	western United States, and in boreal forests of west Canada.
File:Mourning Warbler (34737393215).jpg	Geothlypis philadelphia	Mourning warbler	southern Canada, the central and eastern United States, Belize, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Panama, and other Central American Islands
File:Geothlypis formosa Parkway NC 2.jpg	Geothlypis formosa	Kentucky warbler	central and eastern United States, often ranging as far north as Wisconsin to Pennsylvania.

References

• Curson, Quinn and Beadle, New World Warblers Template:ISBN
• Hilty, Birds of Venezuela Template:ISBN
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica Template:ISBN