Common Yellowthroat chicks are out of their nest in the undergrowth out by our pond, hopping around and calling for food from their parents.

Common Yellowthroats live in thick, tangled vegetation in a wide range of habitats—from wetlands to prairies to pine forests—across North America. Their breeding range stretches across most of the United States, the Canadian provinces, and western Mexico. Yellowthroats are most common in wet areas, which tend to have dense vegetation low to the ground, ideal for skulking and building hidden nests.

Female Common Yellowthroat is calling and flying from bush to tree to reed, keeping an eye on her babies. The male was nearby too, but I didn’t get a photo.

This chick is “hiding” in the daylilies, but it was easy to find because of its constant chirping.

Parents are still feeding the chicks. I think there are 3 or 4 of them. It’s harder now that they are not all in one place!

Common Yellowthroats forage on or near the ground, eating insects and spiders from leaves, bark, branches, flowers, or fruit in low vegetation. Their diet includes bugs, flies, beetles, ants, termites, bees, wasps, grasshoppers, dragonflies, damselflies, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, and other larvae.

“Are you my mother?” wonders frowning chick.

The busy mom.

I didn’t stay long and I won’t bother them anymore today. Good luck, little birdies!