Yellow-breasted Chat Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesYellow-breasted Chat
Large and bulky with a long tail and big head. Note yellow breast, white spectacles, and white mustache stripe.
© Kent Jensen / Macaulay LibrarySouth Dakota, May 25, 2017Large and bulky with a long tail and big head. Note yellow breast, white spectacles, and white mustache stripe.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 16, 2014Adult
Small but bulky songbird with big chest, long tail, and heavy bill. Makes many kinds of calls, including a low, chattering scold and more musical. burbling notes.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 01, 1998Large and bulky with a long tail and big head. Note yellow breast, white spectacles, and white mustache stripe. Eastern birds have a shorter mustache stripe.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 12, 2010Rarely seen in sustained flight. Note rounded wings and light yellow lining to underwings.
© Samuel Paul Galick / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, September 11, 2011Adult
Tends to skulk in low, dense vegetation, where it can be difficult to see.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryJuly 18, 1997Often eats fruit outside of the breeding season.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 01, 2017Found in thickets and scrubby areas. Often stays hidden in dense shrubs.
© Tony Lau / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, June 06, 2017Adult
Small but bulky songbird with big chest, long tail, and heavy bill. Calls, including a low, chattering scold.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasSimilar SpeciesKentucky Warbler
Adult male
Kentucky Warblers are smaller than Yellow-breasted Chats with a smaller bill, shorter tail and a completely yellow belly.
© Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, April 30, 2016Similar SpeciesKentucky Warbler
Female
Kentucky Warblers are smaller than Yellow-breasted Chats. Female Kentucky Warblers also have a smaller bill, shorter tail and a completely yellow belly unlike Yellow-breasted Chats.
© Matthew Grube / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 21, 2016Similar SpeciesYellow-throated Vireo
Adult
Yellow-throated Vireos are smaller than Yellow-breasted Chats with a yellow-olive (not brownish gray) head and 2 white wingbars.
© Adam Capparelli / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 11, 2016Similar SpeciesCommon Yellowthroat
Adult male
Common Yellowthroats are smaller than Yellow-breasted Chats with a black mask instead of white spectacles seen on Yellow-breasted Chats.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 08, 2013Similar SpeciesCommon Yellowthroat
Female
Common Yellowthroats are smaller than Yellow-breasted Chats. Females have yellow (not white) undertail coverts.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 18, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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