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Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Common Yellowthroat illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Common Yellowthroat was completed on 10.7.2011. As a scientific illustrator, I tend to believe that I'm familiar with many of North America's bird species, as I've drawn several and gone birdwatching many times. But recently a project landed on my desk that included many birds, I'm sad to say, I had never heard of. The Common Yellowthroat is one of those birds. But that is one of the benefits of this occupation - I get to learn about new species all the time, the latest being this lovely songbird of North America The drawing is based on a photo by Roy Brown Photography.

Information about the Common Yellowthroat:

The Common Yellowthroat is a member of the Parulidae family, which are New World Warblers. It is a small skulking warbler native to much of North America from the Yukon to Newfoundland, and from southern Florida to southern Mexico. While it's overall numbers are in decline, it is still a very common bird (although it is more frequently heard rather than seen, with it's distinctive "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty" song. The Common Yellowthroat is found in many different habitats, such as  forests with damp brushy area, grassy areas along country roads or in agricultural lands, marshy areas with willows near streams, swamps, and lakes. During the breeding season, the male will perform a special flight song, rising high into the air while singing. Researchers have noted that the males with the larger masks tend to be more successful in attracting a mate.