The Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) is a small songbird that breeds in the southeastern United States and winters in the tropics. Its range spans across much of the eastern and central United States and extends down into Central America and the Caribbean. This bright yellow warbler has a distinctive black mask and bib, white belly, and yellow throat. Understanding the range of this species can help birdwatchers know when and where to look for it throughout the year.
Breeding Range
The Yellow-throated Warbler breeds in the southeastern United States from southern Missouri east to the Atlantic Coast, and south to the Gulf Coast and into eastern Texas. Its breeding range extends as far north as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and New Jersey along the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. During the spring and summer breeding season, this species can be found in mature forests, especially those with pine trees, across this region of the United States.
Some key areas to find breeding Yellow-throated Warblers include:
- Ozark Mountains in Missouri and Arkansas
- Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Pennsylvania
- Pine forests of the Southeastern Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas
- Cypress swamps of Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states
Yellow-throated Warblers build cup-shaped nests in the fork of a tree branch, often pine trees. They lay 3-5 eggs and raise one brood per season, with eggs hatching in May or June after an incubation period of 12 days. The breeding season lasts from April to July across their range. Identifying the song of the Yellow-throated Warbler, a loud and clear “cheese, cheese, cheese” helps birders locate this species on its breeding grounds.
Wintering Range
In the fall, Yellow-throated Warblers migrate from their breeding grounds in the United States to wintering grounds in the tropics. This includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Their winter range extends from southern Mexico down through Panama and into northern Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.
Some key areas to find wintering Yellow-throated Warblers include:
- Lowland forests along the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula
- Pacific coast forests of Costa Rica and Panama
- Coastal forests of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua
- Islands of the Caribbean including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
On their wintering grounds, Yellow-throated Warblers inhabit tropical forests, woodlands, mangroves, and scrub. They forage actively in the canopy for insects. Their winter range overlaps broadly with the closely related Black-polled Warbler which lacks the distinct facial markings. Most birds migrate south starting in August, and return north to breeding grounds between March and May.
Migration Range
Yellow-throated Warblers undertake a long distance migration, traveling between their breeding range in the United States and wintering grounds in the Neotropics. In fall and spring, Yellow-throated Warblers can be found throughout their migration route as they travel between the southeastern states and Central America/Caribbean. This includes coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean where birds stopover to rest and refuel during migration.
Some key areas to find migrating Yellow-throated Warblers include:
- Florida and the Gulf Coast
- Atlantic Coast from Georgia to North Carolina
- Mississippi River Valley
- Central Texas and eastern New Mexico
Although they inhabit forests during the breeding season, Yellow-throated Warblers readily use various habitat types during migration. This includes woodlands, scrub, shade trees, and even parks or residential areas with trees. Identifying their distinctive facial pattern can help pick out Yellow-throated Warblers among the many warbler species migrating along the coasts and throughout the eastern United States in spring and fall.
Year-Round Range
A small number of Yellow-throated Warblers are present year-round throughout their range, rather than migrating. This includes some breeding birds that remain on territory in the southeastern United States during winter, as well as some wintering birds that stay on their tropical grounds through the summer months. However, the majority of the species migrates between distinct breeding and wintering ranges.
Areas where Yellow-throated Warblers can be found year-round include:
- Southern Florida
- Southern coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas
- Caribbean islands including Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, and Greater Antilles
- Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama
These resident populations are mostly limited to coastal areas and islands where suitable habitat exists all year. However, birds may shift their distribution slightly within these regions between seasons. Overall the majority of Yellow-throated Warblers occupy different breeding and wintering ranges, connected by migratory journeys in spring and fall through areas like Florida and along the Gulf Coast.
Range Map
Image source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
This range map shows the breeding (green), wintering (blue), and year-round (purple) ranges of the Yellow-throated Warbler across the eastern United States, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean islands, and northern South America. It illustrates how this species migrates between temperate and tropical regions throughout the year. The dotted lines represent their migration routes including along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast between their distinct summer and winter grounds.
Key Takeaways
- Yellow-throated Warblers breed in mature forests of the southeastern United States and winter in the Neotropics from Mexico to South America.
- During migration they travel along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast between their breeding and wintering grounds.
- Some populations remain year-round in southern coastal areas like Florida and the Caribbean.
- Their breeding, wintering, migratory, and year-round ranges combine to span much of the eastern half of the United States into Central America and the Caribbean.
Conclusion
In summary, the Yellow-throated Warbler occupies a large geographic range across the Americas throughout its annual cycle. Understanding where this species can be found during breeding, wintering, and migration seasons helps birdwatchers know when and where to look for these bright yellow songbirds. Their movements between temperate and tropical regions provide an important example of the phenomenon of avian migration. Careful study of the Yellow-throated Warbler’s range provides insights into its behavior and ecology as well as patterns of bird migration across the Western Hemisphere.
