Common Yellowthroats are widespread and distinctive warblers found throughout Oregon, particularly in wet, brushy habitats like marshes, swamps, along streams, and in overgrown fields. Their bold coloration and energetic nature make them a favorite among birders.

Male Common Yellowthroats in Oregon:
Mask: The most striking feature of the male is its prominent, broad black mask that covers the forehead and extends back to behind the eye, giving them a "bandit" look.
Border to Mask: This black mask is sharply bordered on the top by a bright white (or sometimes grayish-white) band. This white band often extends over the crown, making the black mask even more defined.
Throat and Breast: Below the mask, the entire throat and upper breast are a vibrant, rich yellow. This bright yellow often extends down onto the belly, though it may fade to a dingier yellow or whitish on the lower belly and undertail coverts.
Upperparts: The back, wings, and tail are a plain olive-green. They lack wing bars or tail spots.
Bill: They have a relatively short, thin, pointed bill, dark on top and paler below.
Behavior: Males are very active and vocal, often perched conspicuously on top of a bush or tall weed stalk, singing their distinctive song.
Song: Their song is a familiar, emphatic "wichity-wichity-wichity" or "witchety-witchety-witchety," sometimes likened to "look-at-me."

Female Common Yellowthroats in Oregon:
Mask: Unlike the male, the female lacks the prominent black mask. Instead, her face is a plain, duller version of her upperparts, typically a yellowish-olive to olive-brown.
Eye-ring/Eyebrow: While she doesn't have the male's distinct white border, she often has a faint, paler yellowish or buffy eyebrow (supercilium) and sometimes a subtle, incomplete pale eye-ring, which can give her face a slightly more defined appearance than just plain olive.
Throat and Breast: The throat and breast are still yellow, but it's typically a paler, duller yellow compared to the male's vibrant hue. It may also be less extensive, often fading more quickly to whitish on the belly.
Upperparts: Similar to the male, the back, wings, and tail are olive-green, but often a slightly duller shade.
Bill: Similar to the male's bill.
Behavior: Females are generally more secretive than males, spending more time foraging low in dense vegetation, especially when nesting.

Key Identification Points for both sexes in Oregon:
Habitat: Their strong association with dense, wet, brushy areas is a primary clue. If you hear the "wichity" song coming from such a place, it's almost certainly a Common Yellowthroat.
Male's Black Mask + White Border + Yellow Throat: This combination is unmistakable for the male.
Female's Yellow Throat + Plain Olive Face (no mask): While less striking, the combination of a distinctly yellow throat and an unmasked, olive face is key for the female.
No Wing Bars or Tail Spots: This helps differentiate them from many other warbler species.
Size and Shape: Small, compact warblers with a relatively short tail.

Common Yellowthroats are primarily insectivorous, actively gleaning insects from foliage. They build well-hidden cup nests on or near the ground in dense vegetation. They are one of Oregon's most widespread and easily recognized warblers, especially by song.