Common Yellowthroat Female

In Albums: birds

Female common yellowthroat, a drab small bird with a yellowish breast and throat, brown back, eye ring, and yellow tail

May 21st, 2011, by Alex Zorach

I found this female common yellowthroat in Fairmount park in Philadelphia, in a weedy area just south of Horticultural drive, east of the Japanese House and Garden. This bird was preening, and this was one of the few shots I was able to get where the bird's face was actually visible.

The identifying field marks you can see clearly in this photo are the contrast between the pale, creamy yellow throat, and the darker brown malar area. The yellow undertail coverts are also very boldly visible in this photo. This bird is perching in a slightly acharacteristic pose; common yellowthroats often perch with their tail cocked upward, much like a wren. This bird seemed at ease and relaxed, which may explain its downward tail position.