The olive-crowned yellowthroat is a species of bird in the family Parulidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland and heavily degraded former forest.
Region
Central America and northwestern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama, and south into Colombia and western Ecuador. It inhabits subtropical and tropical moist shrublands, marsh edges, riparian thickets, and heavily degraded former forests with dense understory. The species favors weedy fields, cane stands, and young second-growth near water. It keeps close to the ground or within low tangles where cover is abundant.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A skulking New World warbler, the olive-crowned yellowthroat favors dense, low vegetation and is often heard before it is seen. Males typically show a dark facial mask set off by an olive crown and bright yellow throat, while females lack the mask and are duller. It adapts well to second-growth and even heavily degraded habitats, which has helped it remain fairly common across much of its range.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over vegetation
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs during the breeding season, keeping to dense cover. Nests are placed low in grasses or shrubs, often near water, with both sexes involved in nesting duties. Outside breeding, small family groups may forage together in thick vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of bright, sweet, whistled phrases delivered from concealed perches. Calls are sharp chips and scolding chatters when alarmed.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with a bright yellow throat, breast, and belly; crown and nape olive. Males show a contrasting dark facial mask bordered subtly by paler edges; females lack the mask and are duller overall with more subdued yellow below.
Diet
Primarily consumes insects and other small arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and flies. It gleans prey from leaves and stems, probes into tangles, and occasionally makes short sallies to catch flying insects. Opportunistically takes small seeds or berries when insect prey is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense low vegetation such as marsh edges, weedy fields, riparian thickets, and secondary growth. Often forages within a meter or two of the ground where cover is thick and humidity is high.
