Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) is in the Yellow-breasted Chats family (Icteriidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,265 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Yellow-breasted Chat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow-breasted Chat
The yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) is a large songbird found in North America, and is the only member of the family Icteriidae. It was once a member of the New World warbler family, but in 2017 the AOS (American Ornithological Society) moved it to its own family. Its placement is not definitely resolved.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow-breasted Chat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,177 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 1,807 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 766 | May | May–Aug |
| Colorado | 508 | May | May–Jul |
| Virginia | 440 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 438 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 403 | May | May–Jul |
| Maryland | 375 | May | May–Jul |
| Ohio | 347 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 257 | May | Apr–Jul |
| North Carolina | 246 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon | 235 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 220 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 211 | May | May–Jul |
| Louisiana | 206 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 197 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 173 | May | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 163 | June | May–Jul |
| Georgia | 147 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 146 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 133 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Utah | 124 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 122 | May | May–Jun |
| New York | 121 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 117 | April | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 108 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 104 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Carolina | 104 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 104 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 90 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 75 | December | Sep–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 74 | May | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 67 | June | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 66 | May | May–Jul |
| Montana | 63 | May | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 56 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 48 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 43 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 33 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 25 | June | May–Jul |
| Iowa | 24 | June | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 23 | June | May–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 14 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Connecticut | 12 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Rhode Island | 10 | February | Sep–Feb |
| Vermont | 10 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 9 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 5 | January | Jan–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
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 Yellow-breasted Chat?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Yellow-breasted Chat most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Arizona.