Black-polled Yellowthroat

Overview

The Geothlypis speciosa, or black-polled yellowthroat, is a Vulnerable species of New World warbler endemic to Mexico. It is a year-round resident found only within the central Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, where its population is believed to be decreasing due to habitat loss.

Identification

• Small warbler measuring 12.5 to 13 cm in length and weighing 9.5 to 12 g.
• Males of the nominate subspecies feature a dusky blackish crown merging into a black mask, with warm brownish-olive upperparts and rich yellow underparts washed with brownish cinnamon.
• Females display a dark olive-gray head with a pale supercilium, dark grayish upperparts, and yellow underparts heavily washed with olive-brown.
• Song consists of a distinctive series of loud, ringing notes on one pitch that usually shift midway into descending drier chips, such as "chree-chree-chree...chi-chi-chi".
• Both sexes possess a dark iris, blackish bill, and dark brownish legs.

Habitat

This species inhabits lake marshes dominated by cattail (Typha) and bullrush (Scirpus), alongside other wet landscapes such as swamps, floodplains, and wetlands in the uplands. Its range is limited to the State of México and extends northwest to northern Michoacán and southern Guanajuato, occupying elevations between 1,750 and 2,500 m.

Diet

The bird feeds primarily on insects and other arthropods. It typically forages singly or in pairs, gleaning prey from dense low vegetation.

Did you know?

Despite being known from only five sites with an estimated population of 1,500 to 7,000 individuals, the species does not tolerate habitat modification, making it particularly sensitive to the drainage and agricultural conversion of its marsh habitats.