Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is in the New World Warblers family (Parulidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 59,496 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Common Yellowthroat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Yellowthroat
The common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is a New World warbler. It is an abundant breeder in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico. The genus name Geothlypis is from Ancient Greek geo, "ground", and thlupis, an unidentified small bird; thlypis is often used in the scientific names of New World warblers. The specific trichas is also from Greek; trikhas is a kind of thrush, the word being derived from trikhos, "hair".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Yellowthroat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,832 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 4,557 | October | Sep–Nov |
| New York | 4,402 | May | May–May |
| Texas | 4,402 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 2,898 | May | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 2,801 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 2,217 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 2,156 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 2,121 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 1,985 | May | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 1,855 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 1,777 | May | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 1,292 | May | May–Aug |
| Oregon | 1,244 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 1,216 | May | May–Sep |
| North Carolina | 1,169 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 1,104 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 1,051 | May | May–Sep |
| Michigan | 1,026 | May | May–Sep |
| Missouri | 811 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 742 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Connecticut | 703 | May | May–May |
| Arizona | 677 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Georgia | 651 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Indiana | 598 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 579 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 565 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 556 | May | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 502 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 449 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 290 | October | Sep–Oct |
| West Virginia | 266 | June | May–Sep |
| Iowa | 262 | May | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 256 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | 249 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 223 | May | May–Aug |
| Colorado | 219 | May | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 219 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 206 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Montana | 198 | July | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 190 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 186 | May | Apr–May |
| Utah | 176 | May | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 169 | May | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 163 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 83 | May | May–Aug |
| Nevada | 82 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wyoming | 51 | May | May–Sep |
| North Dakota | 45 | June | May–Sep |
| Alaska | 25 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (New World Warblers)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Northern Parula
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Yellowthroat?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Common Yellowthroat most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Florida, New York.