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GRAY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT  Geothlypis poliocephala 13–14cm.

Distinctive, fairly bulky warbler of ranchland with rough grass and low bushes,

canefields, savanna; mainly in drier grassy habitats, not marshes. Mostly skulk­

ing, but can be curious, perching up on grass stalk or fence, twitching tail side

to side and raising bushy crown; sings from low perch. Note stout pinkish bill,

dark lores, plus habitat and voice. Male averages brighter than female, imm.

dullest. SOUNDS: Bright nasal cheédl-ih or simply cheédl; lacks gruff chek call of

other yellowthroats. Song an unhurried, slightly burry sweet warble, suggesting

a Passerina bunting, 1.5–3.5 secs; shorter, sweeter, often less hurried than Baird’s

and Chiriqui Yellowthroats. Also a descending, slowing series of slightly nasal whistles, 2–3.5 secs.

STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, to 1500m; spreading with deforestation. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

*BAIRD’S [OLIVE-CROWNED] YELLOWTHROAT  Geothlypis [semiflava]

bairdi 12.5–13cm. Grassy fields and pastures, marshes, second growth thickets,

mainly in wetter areas. No overlap with Chiriqui Yellowthroat. Typically skulking

in low dense vegetation but sings from taller grass stalk, low bush, fence, at times

in flight. Note brighter olive upperparts, more extensive yellow underparts than

smaller, finer-billed Common Yellowthroat. Cf. Gray-crowned Yellowthroat

song. SOUNDS: Gruff, slighty downslurred chrreh. When agitated, a prolonged,

overall downslurred chippering trill, 5–8 secs. Song a slightly rambling or

chanting rich warble, relatively even compared to Chiriqui Yellowthroat, and

often including short rattled trills, 4–10 secs. STATUS: Fairly common on Caribbean slope, mainly in

lowlands but locally to 1200m; spills over to adjacent n. Pacific slope. (Honduras to Panama.)

*CHIRIQUI (MASKED) YELLOWTHROAT  Geothlypis [aequinoctialis] chiri­

quensis 12.5–13.5cm. Grassy marshes, wet pastures, reedbeds, second-growth

thickets in wetter areas. No overlap with Baird’s Yellowthroat. Typically skulking

in low dense vegetation but sings from taller grass stalk, low bush, fence, at

times in flight. Note grayish face of female, diffuse grayish border to black mask

of male, more extensive yellow underparts than smaller, finer-billed Common

Yellowthroat. SOUNDS: Slightly burry nasal chrrieh. When agitated, a prolonged,

overall downslurred, chippering trill, 4–9 secs. Song a rambling, slightly jerky,

chanting rich warble, often relatively fast-paced, complex, and jumbled relative

to Baird’s Yellowthroat, 4–9 secs. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common but local in interior valleys of s.

Pacific slope, 900–1200m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT  Geothlypis trichas 11.5–12.5cm. Winter mi-

grant widely to fresh and brackish marshes with reeds, taller grass, wet fields,

mangroves, second growth, scrub; usually near water. Occurs alongside Baird’s

and Chiriqui Yellowthroats. Mostly skulking in low dense vegetation, but often

responds well to pishing. Male’s black mask contrastingly bordered pale bluish

gray, cf. other yellowthroats; imm. male has partial black mask in 1st winter.

Female relatively dull, with reduced yellow on throat and chest. SOUNDS: Gruff,

slightly clipped low tchek or chrek. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common Oct–

Apr on both slopes, mainly to 1500m; more widespread in migration, late Sep–

Oct, Apr–early May. (Breeds N America to Mexico, winters s. US to Panama.)