The Common Yellowthroat is a bird species known for its unique nesting habits. They typically choose dense vegetation, such as shrubs or thickets, for their nests.
These birds prefer areas with low to moderate human disturbance, often near water sources like ponds or streams. They like to nest near the ground, usually between 1-3 feet off the ground.
Common Yellowthroats will often reuse old nests or take over nests from other birds, a behavior known as nest parasitism. This can be a result of their busy schedules, as they may have multiple broods in a single season.
Their nests are usually cup-shaped and about 2-3 inches deep, lined with plant material and sometimes spider webs.
Nesting Behavior
The common yellowthroat's nesting behavior is quite fascinating. Female yellowthroats build a bulky cup nest quite low to the ground in thick weeds.
They use a variety of materials, including grasses, sedges, and other materials taken from the surrounding area. The nest is lined with fine grasses and hair.
The female lays three to five eggs and incubates them for 12 days. Her mate will bring her food during this time, and will then help her feed the nestlings for up to 10 days until fledging.
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Nest Placement
When selecting a nest site, females often choose spots on or near the ground, where they can find support from low-lying plants like sedges, grasses, reeds, and cattails.
Nests in marshy areas are typically built higher off the ground to avoid flooding.
Females may also opt for vegetation growing out of the water, although this is a less common choice.
In general, nest placement is a crucial aspect of nesting behavior, and females take care to choose a site that will keep their eggs and chicks safe.
Nest Description
The female Common Yellowthroat is a skilled nest builder, taking 4-5 days to construct her well-concealed nest.
She starts by creating a platform of grasses and leaves, which serves as the foundation of her nest.
The outer cup of the nest is loose and bulky, made from grasses and sedges.
It measures about 3.5 inches wide and 3 inches deep on the outside, while the inner cup is slightly smaller, averaging 2.2 inches wide and 1.8 inches deep.
Sometimes, a Common Yellowthroat nest has a roof, similar to the nest of an Ovenbird.
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