Icteria virens
(Yellow-breasted Chat)
Physical
Description:
6 1/2-7 1/2" (16-19 cm). Grayish-brown
above, gold below with light gray belly-band. Short, white eyebrow and mustache; white eye
ring. Long legs and tail.
Similar Species- Male Common Yellowthroat
Song:
A variety of chucks, hollow whistles, high
pitched squawks, and loud flute-like notes.
Distribution:
Breeds east across portions of Canada and
northern U.S. to northern New England, and south to Gulf Coast and portions of Mexico.
Winters from portions of northern Mexico, southern Texas, and southern Florida, south to
portions of Central America.
Habitat:
Found in second growth, shrubby old pastures,
thickets, brushy areas, scrub, woodland undergrowth, and fencerows. Often found in low,
wet places near streams, pond edges, or swamps.
Diet:
Eats mostly insects, but will also eat small
fruits, particularly in winter.
Ecology:
Builds nests in shrubs and sometimes on
ground. Sedentary and solitary during winter. May form loose nesting colonies.
Southern Indiana study found 5-8 breeding males (plus 2-5 territorial nonbreading
males) per 18 ha of upland deciduous
scrub; territory averaged
1.24 ha; and very few individuals returned to study area in years following
first capture.
3-6 eggs (usually 5),
for 11-12 days. Young are tended by both parents, and leave nest at 8- 11 days.
Southern Indiana study found that nests begun in late June and July were more
successful than nests begun earlier; nearly all nest failures were attributed
to predators.
Conservation:
| Element Code: | ABPBX24010 |
| Status: | Protected nongame species |
| Global Rank: | G5 |
| State Rank: | S5,NTMB |
| National Rank: | N5B |
Important
State References:
No references are available at this time.